Why conditional sentences are important in IELTS
Understanding and using conditional sentences will make your language more ‘complex’ and will allow you to talk and write about more complicated ideas.
As you understand the possible meanings and functions of conditional sentences, it will also help your understanding in the IELTS reading and listening test.
In this lesson, we will go through the basic meaning and grammatical construction of 1st Conditionals with examples and a chance to practice what you know.
The good news is that although learning the concept of English conditionals might not always be easy, once you have mastered it, it is not easily forgotten. 🙂
Conditionals – The Basics
Conditional sentences are always made up of two parts or two clauses; these are just different names for the same thing.
There is always a condition and a result.
If the earth lacked an atmosphere, life would never have developed.
Here’s an example:
If + clause (condition) + clause (result)
or
Clause (result) + if + clause (condition)
The basic use of the 1st conditional
The 1st conditional is used to talk about an action or event in the future and its possible result or a likely action ‘in the future’.
Here are some examples:
If I study Law, I will be able to get a well-paid job.
If we go to university, we will study higher-level knowledge.
The present tense expresses the future condition and the future simple expresses the result of that condition.
How the 1st conditional is formed
A 1st conditional sentence is formed in this way:
If + Condition + Result
Another way of putting this is:
If + present simple + Will + present simple
You can also change the order of the sentence:
Result + If + Condition
Another way of putting this is:
Will + present simple + If + present simple
For instance these sentences are reversed but they retain the same meaning.
If you study hard, you will pass the test. → You will pass the test if you study hard.
If they move to the city, people will find more jobs. → People will find more jobs if they move to the city.
As you can see from the second example, there is no comma in this construction.
You will pass the test if you study hard.
So, the first conditional can be thought of as real conditionals or in other words ‘conditions’ or ‘situations’ that will happen as a result.
If you review the IELTS test format, you will be better prepared for the test.
One way of using them is to ‘ask about’ or to ‘make a prediction’ in the form of advice or a warning.
This is useful when you want to construct an argument in your IELTS writing.
If students are aware of the IELTS test format, they will be better prepared for the test.
Small businesses will lose out if they don’t adapt to new social media developments.
If you check the question format, you will see that you can only use three words in the gap.
If you submit the test after the teacher’s deadline, it will not be marked.
If you ask for writing feedback, you will see the errors that you make.
This is not the only function, as you often can read 1st conditionals in the form of ‘offers’ or as ‘guarantees’
If you are not completely satisfied with our service, we will return 50% of your payment.
If you sign up to the offer today, you will receive a special offer.
Further ways of constructing the 1st Conditional
The use of ‘will’ is not the only verb we can use in the 1st conditional.
We can also use some modal verbs which can change the message function or suggestion.
For instance:
If I get band 8 in the IELTS test, I may/might/should/could move abroad.
Remember that the ‘modal verb’ replaces ‘will’ in the result clause.
Possibility
We can express a possibility with ‘uncertainty’ or with ‘caution’ by using may, might or could.
Internet users may see increases in their broadband speed if infrastructure investment increases.
Overall, we may see advances in AI translation if more users participate.
We could see a reduction in traffic accidents if cameras are installed.
Obligation
We can express an ‘obligation’ or it’s ‘the correct thing to do’, or even ‘an opinion that something is probable’ by using should.
There should be more signage on litter bins, if we want to encourage people to use them.
People should be aware of certain dress codes if they visit some important culture sites.
If you want to enter, you should be wearing a shirt and tie.
Ability
We can express an ‘ability’ or ‘opportunity’ to do something with ‘could’.
If we want to help developing countries we could give financial assistance rather than financial loans.
If we gave opportunities equally to all students, they could all be valuable members of society.
Caution
Another way of expressing more ‘caution’ is in the ‘be likely/unlikely to’ construction as in these examples:
People are unlikely to stop using their cars if oil prices remain low.
If governments give people incentives to use public transport, they are likely to take advantage of this.
If it does not rain by June, the crops are likely to fail.
The 1st conditional meaning in the questions
Interestingly, the meaning of a question is ‘dependent on the verb’ or ‘modal verb’ used.
For instance, this example is a polite request.
If I help you with your IELTS studies, will you give me some advice about my writing?
while this one below ‘speculates’ about the future.
Will she tell us about the mock-test result, if we go to class?
Conclusion
Remember that the verb you use can subtly change the meaning of the sentence but the overall message is about a ‘possible’ or ‘predicted’ real situation.
Try the following exercises to test yourself, but think carefully about what the sentence is expressing.
IELTS Writing
Zero conditionals and the 1st conditional can be a useful block in building an argument and introducing a result which is always true.
Before the advent of mass transportation, it took months to cross America by horse.
Try this activity with Conditional Sentences
| Rearrange the sentences to make 1st conditional sentences.
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If you need to study conditionals further, the British Council have lots of activities on using English conditionals and you can test yourself here.
Next Lesson: Second Conditionals and IELTS 🙂
Answers
- If he moves abroad, he will make new friends.
- If Jana studies hard, she will improve her overall grades.
- If you miss the exam, you will get nothing.
- The instructor will explain if we ask him.
- They will learn more if they go to the lecture.
- I will find a better job if I relocate to the capital city.
Aspects adapted from Perfect English Grammar
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