Conditional Statement In IELTS Writing Task

 

The conditional statement is also an important part of IELTS writing task 2 and you may use one conditional sentence in your real exam because it enhances your wide range of structure.

There are three types of conditional statements that are used in the IELTS writing task

• First conditional(likely to be used)
• Second conditional(likely to be used)
• Third conditional (less likely to be used)
• Unless statements(A useful variation)
• Provided that statements(A useful variation)

First conditional 

it is used in real-life situations, the situation like to be happening

“if + present simple, will + infinitive”

For example

1. If people work hard, they will have success in their life.
2. If rich countries provide more financial aid to poor countries, it will close the gap between the rich and the poor.
3. If the government does not act soon, global warming becomes irreversible.
4. If young people travel abroad before going to university, they will gain important life experience
5. If the government emphasizes girls’ education, it will aid the country’s growth.

Second condition

The situation may be unreal, hypothetical, or unlikely to be happening at that time we need to use the second conditional statement.

“If + past situation, would + infinite”

For example

1. If the government built a wider road, it would improve traffic flow.
2. There would be more violence and discontent if there was no censorship on the media content.
3. If we use fewer plastic bottles, it might have a huge impact on the environment (might and could in the main clause)

    

Third conditional sentence

Used to express criticism or regret we would have liked the past to be different from what actually happened.

 

“ If + past perfect, would + have + past participle”

 

1. If the public transport system had been better planned, our city would not have become so difficult to live in and work in.
2. If people had invented renewable energy sources before the 17 century, our earth would not face the problem of global warming.

Unless statement

Unless is useful to highlight the potential problem, if a situation is ignored

It is particularly useful in the IELTS solution essay.

 

• If we do not reduce our consumption of plastic, ocean pollution will worsen.
• Unless we reduce our consumption of plastic, ocean pollution will worsen.

 

For example

1. Unless people make more effort to recycle and reduce their energy consumption, global warming will continue to be a threat.
2. Unless the government emphasizes population growth, the scarcity of non-renewable energy sources will be rising over the globe. 

Provided that statement

It means if and only if

1. Children should be allowed to watch a movie on television provided that parents censor violent content.
2. Children should be allowed to play computer games, provided parents control the amount of time they spend playing them.

Important note

• Zero conditional statement is not likely to be used in IELTS writing task 2.
• Conditional statements do not start with if, you can change the position of the clause.