Structure 2: Conditionals, passive, reported speech, modals
Structures with fixed patterns: learn the pattern and the question becomes direct.
Structures with fixed patterns: learn the pattern and the question becomes direct.
Conditionals
| Type | If clause | Main clause |
|---|---|---|
| Zero (fact) | If you heat ice, | it melts. |
| First (likely) | If it rains tomorrow, | we will stay home. |
| Second (unreal now) | If I had a car, | I would drive to work. |
| Third (unreal past) | If she had studied, | she would have passed. |
The passive
| Tense | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Present | am / is / are + p.p. | English is spoken here. |
| Past | was / were + p.p. | The windows were broken. |
| Present perfect | has / have been + p.p. | The car has been repaired. |
| Future and modals | will / can / must be + p.p. | It must be finished today. |
Question patterns
Conditionals
Find the type from the if-clause verb, then match the main clause.
The passive
If the subject does not do the action (windows do not break themselves), use the passive.
Reported speech
Shift back one tense: will → would, am → was, can → could; pronouns change.
Modals
must = obligation or a sure guess; might / may = possibility; should = advice; can = ability.
- After a modal use the bare verb: must go, not must to go.
- No “will” inside the if-clause of a first conditional.