B2 Grammar for IELTS: Topics, Rules, Examples

Below are the list of Grammar topics for IELTS, which one needs to cover for B2 level of english proficiency. 

• Past Perfect Tense
• Second Conditional
• Infinitives
• Modal Verbs of Deduction
• Mixed Conditionals

Definition: The past perfect tense is used to indicate that an action was completed before another action in the past. 

Rules: Subject + had + past participle + the rest of the sentence 

Examples:

• By the time she arrived, he had already left.
• I had finished my homework before dinner.

Definition: The second conditional is used to talk about hypothetical situations that are unlikely to happen. 

Rule: It is structured as "if" + past simple, followed by "would" + base form of the verb.

Examples:

• If I won the lottery, I would travel the world.
• She would buy a new car if she had enough money.

Definition: Infinitives are the base form of verbs, often preceded by "to." They can function as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs.

Rule: To form an infinitive, add "to" before the base form of a verb

Examples:

• To learn a new language is exciting.
• She has a lot of work to do.

Definition: Modal verbs such as "must," "might," "could," and "can't" express degrees of certainty about past actions or present situations.

Rule Structure: Modal verb + base form of the main verb

Examples:

• She must be at work; her car is not here.
• He can't be at home; he left an hour ago.

Definition: Mixed conditionals combine elements from different conditional forms to express situations where the time in the "if" clause is different from the time in the main clause.

• Rule Structure 1 (past condition affecting present): If + past perfect, would + base form
• Rule Structure 2 (present condition affecting past): If + past simple, would have + past participle

Examples:

• If I had studied harder (past), I would be successful now (present).
• If she were more organized (present), she wouldn't have missed her flight (past).