IELTS tips: Conditionals and how to master them

If you want to achieve a high score on the IELTS exam, you will need to master one of the most complicated parts of English learning, conditionals. Conditional tenses are used to speculate about what could happen, what might have happened, and what we wish would happen.

If you want to be fully prepared ahead of the IELTS exam, sign up IELTS preparation lessons at SI-UK London or Manchester. Our experienced teachers can help you reach your target IELTS score with a variety of different IELTS courses which cater to all levels. An IELTS practice test will allow us to see where you need to improve. Visit us for a free consultation today.

Three different types of conditionals in English

1. If + Subject + V (Present), Subject ＋ will/might/may/can + V (infinitive without to)

This type of conditional is used to express something which is possible in the future.

• Example: If I have money, I will buy the car. (I don’t have the money now but I think it is possible I will in the future.)

Note: you can put the two clauses of the sentence in either order.

2. If + Subject + Verb (past simple) + Verb, Subject + would/should/could/might + V (Infinitive without to)

This conditional is used to express something which is currently impossible, or possible but not likely in the future.

• Example 1: If I had money, I would buy a car. (but I don’t have money now)
• Example 2: If I were an English native speaker, I would not need to study IELTS (I am not English.)
• Example 3: If it was sunny tomorrow, I would go to the park (I don’t think it will be sunny tomorrow.)

3. If + Subject + had + Verb (Past Participle), Subject + would/should/could/might + have Verb (Past participle)

This conditional is slightly tricky, combining points 1 and 2 if xxxx (Past 1) and YYY (Present 2).

This describes a situation in the past which is now impossible to change. We often use this for regrets.

• Example: If I had studied harder, I would have passed my exam. (I didn’t study so I didn’t pass my exam.

Advanced IELTS Conditional Tip

You can express the desire which is impossible to be real; or less likely to happen by using ‘I wish’ or ‘If only’.

• Example: I wish the rain would stop for a moment.
• Example: If only I could be an English native speaker.

Study IELTS in London or Manchester

Do you want to improve your reading, writing, speaking and listening ability ahead of applying to study in the UK? IELTS lessons at SI-UK are cheap, flexible and allow you to improve quickly under the guidance of our experienced teaching team. Arrange a practice test today!