Zero Conditional
Table of Contents
Exercises
Explanation
Zero Conditional – talking about facts and rules
Structure
If-clause |
Main clause |
If + Present Simple |
Present Simple |
Example:
If you heat ice, it melts.
Both parts of the sentence use Present Simple.
More examples:
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If you mix blue and yellow, you get green.
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If people don’t drink water, they get thirsty.
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If I wake up late, I miss the bus.
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If cats are hungry, they meow.
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If you press this button, the light turns on.
When We Use the Zero Conditional
Facts and Laws of Nature
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If it rains, the ground gets wet.
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If water reaches 100°C, it boils.
General Truths and Habits
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If you study hard, you learn faster.
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If I’m tired, I go to bed early.
Instructions or Rules
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If the light is red, stop the car.
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If you finish your homework, you can watch TV.
Other Words Instead of if
Word |
Meaning |
Example |
when |
every time |
When I eat too much, I feel sleepy. |
whenever |
each time |
Whenever she visits, she brings cake. |
unless |
if not |
Unless you water plants, they die. |
as soon as |
immediately after |
As soon as the bell rings, class starts. |
In short
Use the Zero Conditional for things that are always true or happen regularly.
It talks about facts, routines, and cause and effect.
Example:
If you smile, people feel happy too.