Structure Builder
Fill in the blank with one word.
Type 1: If you study hard, you ____ pass the test.
will
"If you've finished the practice, could you teach me how to do it?"
Request, advice or order?
Request
A: "If I had more time, I would finish my essay."
B: "If I had more time, I might finish my essay."
Who is more certain?
A (would)
Might = possible, not guaranteed.
Type 1. Start with If.
Hurry up or you will miss the bus.
If you don't hurry up, you will miss the bus.
Find the error: "If it will rain tomorrow, we will cancel the trip."
"If it rains tomorrow, we will cancel the trip."
No will in the if-clause.
Write the correct form of the verb in brackets.
Type 2: If I (have) ______ more time, I would finish my essay.
had
"If you can't finish the practice today, make sure you do it tomorrow."
Request, advice or order?
Order (imperative)
"If I had a laptop, I ______ practise the IELTS reading test at home."
A would
B could
C might
Which modal verb shows ability?
B(could)
Type 2. Start with If.
We don't have a swimming pool, so we don't swim at school.
If we had a swimming pool at school, we would swim.
Find the error: "If he had studied harder, he would passed the exam."
would have passed
Write the correct form of both verbs in brackets.
Type 3: If I (know)______ about the GE test, I (study) ______ harder.
If I had known about the GE test, I would have studied harder.
A: "If you're doing the practice now, I'll do it too!"
B: "If you have finished the practice, I'll do it too!"
C: "If you're going to skip the practice, I'll do it too!"
Which friend says the practice is already completed?
B (present perfect = completion)
"If I was late yesterday, I'm sorry."
Is it a real possibility or imaginary?
Real possibility. The speaker is not sure if they were late.
(Were = imaginary: "If I were you...")
Type 1. Start with If. (unless = if not)
You will fail the test unless you study.
If you don't study, you will fail the test.
Complete: "I will go over the figures again if you ______ (think) that will help."
think
Change the main clause into the passive voice.
"If you lose your library card, the librarian will charge you a fee."
If you lose your library card, you will be charged a fee (by the librarian).
Structure: will be + past participle
"If you're going to skip the practice, you won't pass the test."
What does "be going to" show: plan/intention, completion or ability?
plan/intention
"If you won't read the instructions, you'll get the answers wrong!"
What does won't mean here?
Refuse to
Type 3. Start with If.
We lost the online game because our teammate left in the middle of it.
If our teammate hadn't left in the middle of the game, we wouldn't have lost.
"If you've become completely confused, you ____ start again."
a. will
b. had better
c. are going to
b. had better
Change both clauses into the passive voice.
"If the police had caught the thief, they would have returned the stolen bike."
If the thief had been caught, the stolen bike would have been returned.
Structure: had been + past participle / would have been + past participle
Your friend texts: "I have so much homework!!"
Write a reply. Use a Type 1 sentence: if + can't in the if-clause, and should (or could) in the main clause.
If you can't finish everything tonight, you should do the most important task first.
A: "If you learn the shortcuts, you will save a lot of time."
B: "If you learn the shortcuts, you can save a lot of time."
Which is certain? What does the other one show?
A is certain.
B shows ability / possibility.
Type 3 + passive voice. Start with If.
The classroom window was broken because Tom kicked the ball too hard.
If Tom hadn't kicked the ball so hard, the classroom window wouldn't have been broken.
Write your own Type 2 sentence about practicing for IELTS exam. Use could.
If I practiced IELTS reading skills every day, I might improve my score.