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Using conditional sentences will make your language more complex and sophisticated.
This lesson takes you through the different types of conditional sentences, from zero right through to third conditional.
My YouTube videos also take you step by step through everything you need to know, and give you plenty of examples that you can use in your Writing (and Speaking!) Test.
Watch Part 1 of my 3-part ‘Conditionals Made Easier’ series below.
Get the workbook that goes with my Conditionals 28-Day Bootcamp Course.
Get the full course here.
There is a simple logic to conditionals and once you see it, you’ll never forget it.
Conditionals depend on how REAL or POSSIBLE the situation is in the eyes of the speaker.
Look at these examples from the video below.
As you progress further and further from possibility (from zero to third), the tenses go BACK – from Present, to Past, to Past Perfect.
Use ZERO Conditional when
You can use it to talk about your habits in Speaking Part 1.
e.g. How do you usually get to school/work?
Here are some well-known expressions my students sent me on Instagram using Zero Conditional:
1) If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.
2) If you can’t beat them, join them.
3) If it looks too good to be true, it probably is.
4) Be good. If you can’t be good, be careful.
5) If you want something done properly, do it yourself.
6) If a job’s worth doing, it’s worth doing well.
7) If you can dream it, you can do it (Walt Disney)
8) If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it.
9) If life gives you lemons, make tequila.
10) If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.
Use First Conditional
First Conditional is perfect for the “final thought” in IELTS Writing Task 2.
For example:
If we/ parents/ the government/ those responsible…
…continue to (…)
…are unable to find an alternative to (…)
…do not limit/reduce (…)
…do not invest more time and money in (…)
[Result]
…there will be dire consequences for (the planet).
…the impact on (the planet) will be disastrous.
…it will have an adverse impact in the long-term.
…many more (people) will suffer as a result.
The most common word used in conditionals is “if”, but there are other options you can use to add variety and range.
For example:
I’ll lend you some money…
…as/so long as you promise to pay me back.
…provided that you promise to pay me back.
…on condition that you promise to pay me back.
I won’t lend you any money…
…*unless* you promise to pay me back (see next section)
‘Unless’ is difficult. It just means ‘if not’ and can be used with all the conditionals.
Here are some memorable examples my students posted on Instagram:
ZERO CONDITIONAL
SECOND CONDITIONAL
Second Conditionals are a great way of making suggestions and recommendations in IELTS Writing Task 2.
Watch Part 2 of my Conditionals Made Easier series on YouTube for explanations and useful examples (see below).
We saw how First Conditionals can be used to add a ‘final thought’ about possible consequences.
Second Conditional can also be used in this way.
If we/parents/the government/those responsible…
…did more to (combat/tackle climate change)
…could find an alternative to (fossil fuels)
…limited/reduced (the number of cars on the road)
…invested more time and money in (alternative fuels)
RESULT clause:
…they would be able to reduce (habitat loss)
…(global warming) might be reversed.
…it would bring a number of advantages.
…many more (species) could be saved.
‘Wish‘ follows the same rules as the Second Condtionals, because it expresses imaginary situations.
(Watch the video for explanations)
I wish I could go to the party.
I wish I had more money.
I wish I was/were more ambitious.
I wish I could speak French.
NB ‘Wish’ can be replaced with ‘If only‘ (stronger regret).
Use THIRD Conditional to talk about imaginary situations in the PAST.
For example:
I didn’t study. I didn’t pass.
If I had studied, I would have passed.
(If + Past Perfect + would + have + 3rd form)
It is often used to express REGRET about the Past.
When you use ‘WISH’ to express regret about the Past, you use Past Perfect, the same as the Third Conditional.
Here are some common examples of regrets:
(If I had studied computing, I would have got a better job).
These are not exactly conditionals, but the meaning is similar.
‘The closer you get, the slower I go.’
= If you get closer, I will drive slower.
‘The bigger the better.’
= If something is bigger, it is better.
‘The more the merrier.’
= If more people come to the party, it will be merrier!
In real life, conditionals get mixed up all the time, because each part of the sentence refers to a different time.
e.g.
If I had studied computing (PAST), I would be rich (PRESENT).
Don’t worry too much about these. You rarely need to use them.
This is a very advanced and quite formal way of expressing conditionals (but not too difficult!).
Second Conditional
If the government invested more, they would save money.
Were the government to invest more, they would save money.
Third Conditional
If the government had invested more, they would have saved money.
Had the government invested more, they would have saved money.
Get more grammar practice:
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Hi .
How do I join the writing course
Dear Osama
The Writing Bootcamp is still open until midnight tonight (May 16th 2021)
Click here for more info.
You are the best teacher ever.
The following sentence is correct ma’m?
2nd Conditional:
“If I studied hard, I would pass the exam” – inverted as :
” Were I to study hard, I would pass the exam.”
3rd Conditional:
“If I had studied hard, I would have passed the exam.”
Inverted as :
“Had I studied hard, I would have passed the exam. “
Yes Meha – those are excellent! Best wishes
Fiona