Zero Conditional use
We talk about facts, general truths, habits, patterns, rules, and instructions. This is what always (usually) happens when the condition is met.
Zero Conditional Form
| if-part (Conditional) |
main part Result |
| if + subject + Present Simple | subject + Present Simple |
If + subject + Present Simple, subject + Present Simple.
Subject + Present Simple + if + subject + Present Simple.
If water reaches 100°C, it boils.
Zero Conditional Rule
-
The order of the parts doesn’t matter.
If you heat ice, it melts.Ice melts if you heat it.
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If the conditional part comes first, we put a comma after it.
If you mix red and blue, you get purple.You get purple if you mix red and blue.
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we often use when / whenever / unless
When it rains, the ground gets wet.
Unless plants get light, they don’t grow.
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we use when / whenever / unless for instructions
If you see an error, report it.
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do not use will (this is not about the future but about a fact or a pattern)
❌ If you heat ice, it will melt.✅ If you heat ice, it melts.
Zero Conditional Negation
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in the if-clause: Present Simple + don't / doesn't
If he doesn’t call, he gets worried.
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in the main clause: the regular negative form of the Present Simple
If plants don’t get light, they don’t grow.
If I drink coffee late, I don’t sleep well.
Zero Conditional Questions
Questions are formed in the Present Simple; we then add the if-clause.
What happens if + Present Simple?
Wh-word + Present Simple + if + Present Simple?
What happens if it rains?
Why does water boil if it reaches 100°C?
Where do you go if you finish work early?
What do you do if you feel stressed?
Zero Conditional Exercises and tests
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Zero Conditional
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Zero Conditional Common mistakes
❌ If it will rain, the ground gets wet.
✅ If it rains, the ground gets wet.
❌ It melts, if you heat ice.
(extra comma)
✅ It melts if you heat ice.
❌ If you report it, ...
(incorrect for the rule)
✅ If you see an error, report it.
Zero Conditional Sentences
If you heat ice, it melts.
If people eat too much sugar, they gain weight.
If you press this button, the app closes.
If I drink coffee late, I can’t sleep.
If children are tired, they become irritable.
If you mix red and blue, you get purple.
If you save regularly, your balance grows.
If you update the app, it starts faster.
If a device overheats, performance drops.
If you overwork, your concentration suffers.
Zero Conditional Examples
If it rains, the ground gets wet.
If water freezes, it expands.
If you don’t water plants, they die.
If you read every day, your vocabulary grows.
If the temperature drops below zero, water turns to ice.
If code isn’t tested, bugs remain.
If you share knowledge, the team improves.
If a battery empties, the device shuts down.
If a session expires, the system asks you to log in.
If you ignore warnings, problems accumulate.