WrongIf the government will raise taxes, people will complain.
RightIf the government raises taxes, people will complain.
The if-clause never takes «will» — it takes the present simple.
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Grammar
Conditionals
Needed for hypotheticals in Speaking Part 3 and Task 2 — a clear band 7 signal.
Why this moves your band
Part 3 always contains «What would happen if…» questions. A correct second conditional shows the examiner real grammatical range.
The rule
- 1First conditional (real future): If governments invest, cities will improve.
- 2Second conditional (hypothetical): If governments invested more, cities would improve.
- 3Third conditional (unreal past): If they had invested, the problem would not have appeared.
Wrong and right
WrongIf I would have more time, I would study abroad.
RightIf I had more time, I would study abroad.
In the second conditional «would» stays in the main clause; after «if» comes the past simple.
WrongIf they invested earlier, the crisis would not happen.
RightIf they had invested earlier, the crisis would not have happened.
A hypothesis about the past needs had + participle and would have + participle.
Check after writing
- Is there any «will» left after «if»?
- Does the hypothetical keep «if + past», «would + infinitive»?
- Is the third conditional used for past hypotheses?
Practice
Pick one answer for each question — the right answer and the rule appear straight away. Nothing is saved.
1.If it rains tomorrow, we the trip.
2.If I rich, I would build a school in my village.
3.If she had studied harder, she the exam last year.
4.If governments taxes on sugar, people would buy fewer sweet drinks.
5.If the city more bus lanes, traffic will improve.
6.If they had left earlier, they the train yesterday.
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