🔄 Conditionals for IELTS – Real vs Unreal Examples You Should Know

Conditionals help you express cause and effect, hypothetical situations, and future possibilities. They are especially useful in IELTS Writing Task 2 when explaining consequences, and in Speaking when sharing personal opinions or speculations. This guide explains how to use all four types of conditionals effectively in IELTS.

📚 What Are Conditionals?

Conditionals are “if” sentences that describe a condition and its result. They are divided into four main types:

• Zero Conditional: If + present simple, present simple
• First Conditional: If + present simple, will + verb
• Second Conditional: If + past simple, would + verb
• Third Conditional: If + past perfect, would have + past participle

✅ Zero Conditional – General Truths

Structure: If + present simple, present simple

Example: If people eat too much junk food, they gain weight.

Use in IELTS:
“If students focus in class, they understand better.”

✅ First Conditional – Real Future Possibility

Structure: If + present simple, will + verb

Example: If governments invest in public transport, cities will become less polluted.

Use in IELTS Writing:
“If stricter laws are enforced, crime will decrease.”

✅ Second Conditional – Unreal or Hypothetical Present/Future

Structure: If + past simple, would + verb

Example: If I had more free time, I would volunteer at a shelter.

Use in IELTS Speaking Part 3:
“If people worked fewer hours, they would enjoy better mental health.”

✅ Third Conditional – Unreal Past

Structure: If + past perfect, would have + past participle

Example: If she had studied harder, she would have passed the exam.

Use in Speaking or Writing:
“If the company had adopted greener practices earlier, they would have avoided criticism.”

⚖️ Real vs Unreal Comparison

• Real: “If I study more, I will improve.” (possible future)
• Unreal: “If I were the president, I would invest in education.” (not true now)

🚫 Common Mistakes

• ❌ “If I will go there, I will learn.” → ✅ “If I go there, I will learn.”
• ❌ “If I was you…” → ✅ “If I were you…” (formal grammar)
• ❌ Mixing tenses: “If I studied more, I will pass.” → Confusing meaning

🧠 Practice Task

Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verb:

1. If we __________ (recycle) more, the environment would benefit.
2. If I had known about the deadline, I __________ (submit) the form on time.
3. If people walk to work, they __________ (be) healthier.
4. If I __________ (have) the chance, I would live abroad.

🎯 Final Tip

Don’t try to use all four conditionals in one essay — but make sure you can use each one correctly when it fits. Using a well-placed second or third conditional can instantly show grammatical range and raise your writing or speaking score.

See also next Tense Consistency in IELTS Writing – How to Get It Right

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