If sentences (conditionals)

The rule for if-sentence mistakes

Something possible: if + present, will (If it rains, we will stay). Something imagined: if + past, would (If I had time, I would help).

Pattern: Possible: If + present, will. Imagined: If + past, would. Unreal past: If + had + past participle, would have + past participle.

Used correctly: a correctly formed conditional (for example "If I had more time, I would travel.", "If they had acted sooner, they would have saved money.").

Use this when you write about a possible, an imagined or an unreal past situation with "if".

If-sentence mistakes: wrong and right examples

• Wrong If it will rain tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.

  Right If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.

• Wrong If I would be rich, I would buy a farm.

  Right If I were rich, I would buy a farm.

More right sentences

• If the city builds more bike lanes, more people will cycle.
• If I lived by the sea, I would swim every day.
• If we had saved more, we would have bought the house.

Traps to avoid with if-sentence mistakes

• No "will" or "would" in the if-part: not "If I will see him" or "If I would know".
• Formal writing often uses "were" for everyone: "If the plan were cheaper, ..."

Skills that train if-sentence mistakes

• Conditional sentences (if ... would) at B2 B2
• Problem and solution paragraphs for B2 B2
• Problem and solution paragraphs: cause and solution C1

Related mistakes

• Passive voice mistakes: is made, was built
• Relative clause mistakes: who, which, that, whose, where
• Missing subjects: “Is possible that ...” and how to fix it