Many IELTS candidates find themselves puzzled by the structure “Had it been approved, we would have started”. This grammatical construction, known as the third conditional with inversion, can seem complex at first glance. However, understanding and utilizing it effectively can significantly enhance your speaking and writing scores, showcasing your command of advanced grammar.
Let’s look at a few examples of how this structure can be used across different sections of the IELTS:
Speaking:
- “Had I started preparing for the IELTS earlier, I wouldn’t be feeling so stressed right now.” (This demonstrates your ability to express regret or a hypothetical past situation.)
Writing Task 2:
- “Had governments invested more heavily in renewable energy sources decades ago, the effects of climate change might have been less severe.” (This highlights your ability to construct complex arguments and explore cause-and-effect relationships.)
Writing Task 1 (describing a process):
- “Had the initial proposal been accepted, the project would have proceeded to the next stage.” (This shows your ability to describe hypothetical steps in a process.)
Deconstructing the Structure: Meaning and Usage
“Had it been approved…” signifies a hypothetical past event that did not occur. It emphasizes that something was not approved, and as a result, a consequence in the past also didn’t happen. The use of “had” at the beginning of the sentence creates a more formal and sophisticated tone, which is particularly important for achieving a higher band score in the IELTS.
This grammatical structure is frequently used in both academic and everyday English to discuss unrealized possibilities and their hypothetical outcomes. In the IELTS, understanding this structure is crucial for demonstrating your grasp of complex grammatical structures, which contributes to a higher score in grammatical range and accuracy.
Formula and Application
The formula for this third conditional inversion is as follows:
Had + subject + past participle (V3), subject + would/could/might + have + past participle (V3)
Let’s break it down:
- “Had + subject + past participle”: This sets up the unreal past condition. It tells us what didn’t happen.
- “subject + would/could/might + have + past participle”: This part describes the hypothetical past result. It tells us what would have happened if the condition had been true.
Application in IELTS:
- Speaking: Use it to express regrets, discuss hypothetical situations, or answer “what if” questions.
- Writing Task 1: Employ this structure when describing a process that did not happen due to an unfulfilled condition.
- Writing Task 2: Utilize it to present complex arguments, explore cause-and-effect relationships, or discuss hypothetical scenarios and their potential outcomes.
Illustrative Examples
Speaking:
- Examiner: “Do you think it’s important to travel?”
- Candidate: “Absolutely. Had I not traveled last year, I wouldn’t have gained the cultural insights and perspectives that I did.” (The candidate uses the structure to highlight the positive results of their past travels.)
Writing Task 2:
- Topic: Some people believe that the government should spend more money on public transportation, while others think that it is better to invest in roads. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
- Example: “Had greater investments been directed towards public transportation systems in recent decades, cities might now be experiencing lower levels of traffic congestion and pollution.” (This sentence effectively argues for the potential benefits of increased public transportation funding.)
Aiming Higher: Advanced Usage
To further impress the examiner, consider these tips:
- Vary your modal verbs: Instead of always using “would”, incorporate “could”, “might”, or even “should” to add nuance to your hypothetical outcomes.
- Combine with other structures: Try combining the third conditional inversion with other grammatical structures like participle clauses or relative clauses to create more complex and sophisticated sentences.
Common Errors and How to Avoid Them
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Incorrect tense sequence: Ensure that the verbs in both parts of the sentence follow the correct tense sequence.
- Incorrect: Had she studied harder, she will pass the exam.
- Correct: Had she studied harder, she would have passed the exam.
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Missing inversion: Remember to invert the subject and auxiliary verb in the first part of the sentence.
- Incorrect: If it had been approved, we would have started.
- Correct: Had it been approved, we would have started.
Conclusion
Mastering the “Had it been approved, we would have started” structure will undoubtedly strengthen your grammatical range and accuracy in the IELTS. Remember to practice using it in various contexts and familiarize yourself with the common errors to avoid them. With consistent effort, you’ll confidently incorporate this sophisticated grammatical tool into your IELTS speaking and writing, impressing the examiners and boosting your overall score.