what is If clauses – English Grammar ielts exam
Conditional sentences are also known as conditional clauses or if clauses.
If clause is used when:
- It is possible to fulfill conditions.
Form: If + simple present, will – future
If I find her address, I will send her an invitation
- It is theoretically possible to fulfill conditions.
Form: If + simple past, would + infinitive
If I found her address I would send her an invitation
- It is impossible to fulfill conditions.
Form: If + past perfect, would + have past perfect
If I had found her address, I would have sent her an invitation.
Type- 1: If + the simple present tense + will / can or may / might.
Probable Actions in the future
- If you leave before ten you’ll catch the train.
- If you don’t hurry, you might miss it.
- The bowl will break, if you drop it.
- I can get some more milk if there is enough.
Type- 2: If + the simple past tense + would, could or might.
Less probable actions in the future.
- If we saved Rs.500 We’d have enough for a holiday trip.
- We might save enough if we worked overtime.
Unreal actions in the present.
- If we were rich I’d travel around the world.
- We could buy a new car If you didn’t spend so much on clothes.
Type – 3:
If + the past perfect tense + would have, could have or might have.
Impossible actions in the past
- If it had rained yesterday there wouldn’t have been many people here.
- If I hadn’t been ill I could have gone yesterday.
Other types of If clauses.
1) If + present tense + the imperative.
a.. If it’s raining take a coat.
- Don’t wear those shoes if you want to go for walking.
2) If + simple present tense + simple present tense.
- If you mix blue and yellow you get green.
- If the temperature falls below zero, water freezes.
3) If + present continuous / Present perfect tense + modal verb.
- If you’re planning a holiday, I’ll tell you about ours.
- If you haven’t been to Mysore you ought to go there.
4) If+ modal verb + modal verb.
- If you can’t find your dress it might be in the cupboard.
- Well, Suman can’t use this shirt if he won’t wash up.
5) If + will / would + modal verb.
- If you’ll give me your address, I can send you the information.
- If you would kindly wait a moment please, Mr. Kumar won’t be long.
6) If + should + modal verb + imperative.
- I think it’s going to be nice but if it should rain we can have the meals inside.
Exercise; Complete the sentence with appropriate clauses :-
- If I ……………. (Have + bring) my camera we ……………. (Will + have take) some photographs.
- If you ………….. (Have + go) to the station at 10.a.m you wouldn’t ……………….. (Have + miss) the train.
- If you ………….. (Have + score) more marks, you ………. (Will + have + get) seat in the college you wanted.
Key answers
- Have brought, will have taken
- Have gone, have missed
- have scored, will have got
Also Read Differences between countries are barely evident these days ielts exam
what is If clauses – English Grammar ielts exam what is If clauses – English Grammar ielts exam what is If clauses – English Grammar ielts exam what is If clauses – English Grammar ielts exam what is If clauses – English Grammar ielts exam what is If clauses – English Grammar ielts exam what is If clauses – English Grammar ielts exam
