1. Start with the result, then identify what it needs
In this pattern, if does more than introduce a prediction of what will happen if an event occurs. The am/is/are to clause presents a desired result or one to be made possible. The main clause names the necessary action or resource. In another language, an expression of purpose may translate it more naturally than a word-for-word conditional.
Imagine examining a plan backwards: if this is the result we want, what must happen first? Be to foregrounds that dependency. It does not say the result already exists, will inevitably happen or is someone’s destiny.
If + subject + am/is/are to + base verb, necessary action or condition for that goal.
- subject / S —
- The grammatical subject: who or what the clause is about; the verb agrees with it. In The book was written, the book is the subject, although someone else does the action.
- verb / V —
- A word for an action or state, such as work or be. The pattern determines its form.
- V1 / base form —
- The base verb without to: work, go, be.
If the museum is to reopen, the entrance must be repaired.
If the museum is to reopen, the entrance must be repaired.
Reopening is the goal in the if-clause; repairing the entrance is the prerequisite in the main clause. The sentence does not guarantee reopening after the repair.
If I am to give useful feedback, I need the complete draft.
If I am to give useful feedback, I need the complete draft.
The speaker explains a prerequisite for future work, rather than reporting feedback already given.
2. An agreeing form of be, followed by an infinitive
Agree the first verb with its subject: I am to, she/he/it is to, you/we/they are to. After to, use a base form: succeed, remain, understand. Do not carry the -s from is into the infinitive or replace the infinitive with -ing.
The if-clause can follow the main clause without changing the meaning roles. An initial if-clause normally takes a following comma; a final if-clause normally does not.
If each applicant is to receive a reply, we need a reliable contact list.
If each applicant is to receive a reply, we need a reliable contact list.
Each applicant is singular, so use is; receive after to remains without -s.
We need clear roles if we are to work together effectively.
We need clear roles if we are to work together effectively.
The goal comes last, but clear roles still names the prerequisite for effective cooperation.
3. The main clause: necessity, advice or a question
Must is not the only possible continuation. Express necessity with need to, have to, be necessary or be essential. Choose according to meaning: a person’s action or the presence of a resource may be needed.
Should as advice is weaker than must. Do not turn a recommendation into an unconditional requirement merely to fit the construction. You can also ask what the goal requires: the main clause is then a question, while the if-clause keeps subject + be order.
If the consultation is to be inclusive, an accessible venue is essential.
If the consultation is to be inclusive, an accessible venue is essential.
A noun phrase names the necessary resource; there is no need to add must artificially.
If we are to make the guide easier to use, we should test it with new readers.
If we are to make the guide easier to use, we should test it with new readers.
Should recommends a step. This wording does not make testing categorically compulsory.
What must we change if the service is to remain affordable?
What must we change if the service is to remain affordable?
Question order must we belongs in the main clause; the if-clause correctly uses the service is to without inversion.
4. A goal can be preventing something
If we are not to lose… means that losing something is to be prevented. The main clause names the necessary preventive step. Not after be is natural in this use, especially in a carefully worded warning.
Preserve negation in a paraphrase. If we are to avoid losing… can express the same goal: a different grammatical form with the same meaning, rather than a correction. Negation in the main clause has its own meaning too: must not prohibits an action, whereas need not makes it optional.
If we are not to lose the records, we must keep a second copy.
If we are not to lose the records, we must keep a second copy.
The goal is avoiding loss rather than causing it. A second copy is a necessary measure, not an absolute guarantee.
If the room is to remain quiet, visitors must not use the speakerphone.
If the room is to remain quiet, visitors must not use the speakerphone.
The goal is affirmative, preserving quiet; must not expresses the prohibition in the main clause.
5. Passive: a result for a document or object
When the subject receives rather than performs an action, use am/is/are to be + past participle. In the report is to be published, is agrees with report, while be published is a passive infinitive. The second be does not duplicate the first: they have different grammatical roles.
When changing active to passive, preserve the performer if named and important to the condition: by the editor, by the panel. Do not shift responsibility to make the sentence easier.
If + subject + am/is/are to be + past participle, …
- subject / S —
- The grammatical subject: who or what the clause is about; the verb agrees with it. In The book was written, the book is the subject, although someone else does the action.
- V3 / past participle —
- The third verb form: worked, gone, seen. Used after have/has or in the passive, for example; it is not always the same as V2.
If the report is to be published on Monday, the editor must receive it today.
If the report is to be published on Monday, the editor must receive it today.
The report does not publish itself: be and past participle published are needed. Monday and today serve different time roles.
If all voices are to be heard, the chair must allow enough discussion time.
If all voices are to be heard, the chair must allow enough discussion time.
All voices is plural, so use are. Heard is the past participle of hear, rather than hear or hearing.
6. Related constructions: not every be expresses a goal
If the centre is expanding… considers a condition about expansion in progress; if the centre is to expand… presents future expansion as a goal. Both are grammatical, but they do not convey the same perspective without further explanation.
Be to without this dependency can report an official plan or arrangement. The separate pattern if … were to … presents a remote hypothetical scenario. Do not mechanically replace are to with were to: in an appropriate context, that changes the speaker’s position. This lesson targets present wording of a goal, rather than every possible meaning of be to.
If the centre is expanding, the current floor plan may already be out of date.
If the centre is expanding, the current floor plan may already be out of date.
Grammatical present continuous: a condition about an ongoing process rather than prerequisites for a future goal.
The delegates are to meet at noon.
The delegates are to meet at noon.
A report of a planned meeting, without naming a necessary step towards a goal.
If the supplier were to withdraw, we would need another plan.
If the supplier were to withdraw, we would need another plan.
The speaker considers a hypothetical withdrawal and its consequence, rather than seeking the supplier’s withdrawal.
7. Using the construction without extra promises
The pattern is useful for discussing plans, learning, service accessibility and shared decisions. It often sounds more considered or formal than if we want to. This is a register tendency, rather than a ban on conversation. Different natural wording can preserve the same goal and strength of requirement.
A necessary condition is not a sufficient one. If a goal requires money, money alone need not guarantee success. Do not reverse the dependency into “if we obtain money, we will certainly reach the goal”. Two separate statements—“we want expansion” and “we request funding”—also do not prove that funding is necessary for that expansion; context must establish that link.
If the programme is to continue next year, stable funding is necessary, but funding alone will not solve the staffing problem.
If the programme is to continue next year, stable funding is necessary, but funding alone will not solve the staffing problem.
The second part explicitly sets a limit: necessary funding can coexist with other unresolved problems.
For the programme to continue next year, stable funding is necessary.
For the programme to continue next year, stable funding is necessary.
A natural paraphrase of the same dependency. It can fail an exercise explicitly requesting if + be to without being ungrammatical.
Common mistakes
Incorrect:If the scheme are to succeed, local support is essential.
Correct:If the scheme is to succeed, local support is essential.
The scheme is singular, so the finite verb must be is. The goal and prerequisite remain unchanged.
Incorrect:If the library is to serving more readers, it needs more space.
Correct:If the library is to serve more readers, it needs more space.
After to in this pattern, use infinitive serve rather than serving.
Incorrect:If these requests are to be consider fairly, we need clear criteria.
Correct:If these requests are to be considered fairly, we need clear criteria.
A passive infinitive has to be + past participle: considered.
Incorrect:If we are to retain volunteers, we must to listen to them.
Correct:If we are to retain volunteers, we must listen to them.
To belongs in are to retain, but modal must takes listen without to.
Sources
- Net Languages · Grammar Reference: Infinitive — plans and prerequisites with be to
- Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary · survive
- British Council · Verbs followed by the infinitive
- British Council · Conditionals: zero, first and second — LearnEnglish Team reply about were to
- Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary · be