Zero Conditional
Express real facts and general truths using if + present → present.
Express real facts and general truths using if + present → present.
Unit 44 – Zero Conditional (A2)
Introduction
In everyday English, we often talk about things that are always true: rules, habits, routines, and facts about the world. This unit helps you express these real and general truths clearly. You will learn how to use the zero conditional to describe what happens every time a condition is true.
Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Use the zero conditional to talk about facts and general truths; form correct sentences with if + present simple and present simple; use common time words like always, usually, and when with the zero conditional.
1) What the Zero Conditional Means
The zero conditional describes something that is true in general. It is not about the future or a special situation. It is about what happens every time, or what is normally true.
Important concept
In the zero conditional, the result is a fact: when the condition happens, the result happens too. It is like a rule.
Examples:
If you heat water, it boils.
If I don’t sleep enough, I feel tired.
If people eat too much sugar, they gain weight.
2) Form: If + Present Simple → Present Simple
The structure is:
If + present simple, present simple.
You can also change the order:
Present simple + if + present simple.
Examples (same meaning):
If it rains, the ground gets wet.
The ground gets wet if it rains.
Warning
Do not use will in the zero conditional. This unit is for general truths, not future predictions.
Correct:
If you mix red and blue, you get purple.
Not for zero conditional:
If you mix red and blue, you will get purple.
3) Present Simple Details: Positive, Negative, Questions
Positive:
If I drink coffee late, I sleep badly.
Negative:
If we don’t water plants, they die.
Questions:
What happens if you don’t eat breakfast?
Do you feel nervous if you speak in public?
4) If and When
In the zero conditional, if and when are often similar. Both can describe a general truth.
Examples:
If I study, I understand the lesson better.
When I study, I understand the lesson better.
However, if can also sound more conditional (not always certain), while when can sound more regular. At A2 level, you can use either one for general truths.
5) Common Uses in Real Life
Rules and instructions:
If you press this button, the machine starts.
Habits and routines:
If I finish work early, I walk home.
Scientific facts and nature:
If the temperature goes below zero, water freezes.
Health and everyday cause-and-effect:
If you don’t drink water, you get thirsty.
Practice
Practice section
Complete each sentence using the zero conditional. Answers are included.
| Exercise | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1) If you ______ (not / eat) vegetables, you ______ (not / get) enough vitamins. | If you don’t eat vegetables, you don’t get enough vitamins. |
| 2) Water ______ (boil) if you ______ (heat) it. | Water boils if you heat it. |
| 3) If my brother ______ (play) loud music, my parents ______ (get) angry. | If my brother plays loud music, my parents get angry. |
| 4) If it ______ (rain), the streets ______ (be) wet. | If it rains, the streets are wet. |
| 5) Complete with the correct order: You feel better / if / you / exercise / regularly. | You feel better if you exercise regularly. |
| 6) Choose: If / When I drink too much coffee, I can’t sleep. | When I drink too much coffee, I can’t sleep. (If is also possible.) |
| 7) Make it negative: If we have a meeting, we start at 9:00. | If we don’t have a meeting, we don’t start at 9:00. |
| 8) Write a question: you / feel / tired / if / you / go to bed late? | Do you feel tired if you go to bed late? |
| 9) Correct the sentence for zero conditional: If you touch fire, you will burn. | If you touch fire, you burn. |
| 10) Complete: If people ______ (drive) carefully, there ______ (be) fewer accidents. | If people drive carefully, there are fewer accidents. |
Unit 44 – Zero Conditional (A2)
Introduction
In everyday English, we often talk about things that are always true: rules, habits, routines, and facts about the world. This unit helps you express these real and general truths clearly. You will learn how to use the zero conditional to describe what happens every time a condition is true.
Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Use the zero conditional to talk about facts and general truths; form correct sentences with if + present simple and present simple; use common time words like always, usually, and when with the zero conditional.
1) What the Zero Conditional Means
The zero conditional describes something that is true in general. It is not about the future or a special situation. It is about what happens every time, or what is normally true.
Important concept
In the zero conditional, the result is a fact: when the condition happens, the result happens too. It is like a rule.
Examples:
If you heat water, it boils.
If I don’t sleep enough, I feel tired.
If people eat too much sugar, they gain weight.
2) Form: If + Present Simple → Present Simple
The structure is:
If + present simple, present simple.
You can also change the order:
Present simple + if + present simple.
Examples (same meaning):
If it rains, the ground gets wet.
The ground gets wet if it rains.
Warning
Do not use will in the zero conditional. This unit is for general truths, not future predictions.
Correct:
If you mix red and blue, you get purple.
Not for zero conditional:
If you mix red and blue, you will get purple.
3) Present Simple Details: Positive, Negative, Questions
Positive:
If I drink coffee late, I sleep badly.
Negative:
If we don’t water plants, they die.
Questions:
What happens if you don’t eat breakfast?
Do you feel nervous if you speak in public?
4) If and When
In the zero conditional, if and when are often similar. Both can describe a general truth.
Examples:
If I study, I understand the lesson better.
When I study, I understand the lesson better.
However, if can also sound more conditional (not always certain), while when can sound more regular. At A2 level, you can use either one for general truths.
5) Common Uses in Real Life
Rules and instructions:
If you press this button, the machine starts.
Habits and routines:
If I finish work early, I walk home.
Scientific facts and nature:
If the temperature goes below zero, water freezes.
Health and everyday cause-and-effect:
If you don’t drink water, you get thirsty.
Practice
Practice section
Complete each sentence using the zero conditional. Answers are included.
| Exercise | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1) If you ______ (not / eat) vegetables, you ______ (not / get) enough vitamins. | If you don’t eat vegetables, you don’t get enough vitamins. |
| 2) Water ______ (boil) if you ______ (heat) it. | Water boils if you heat it. |
| 3) If my brother ______ (play) loud music, my parents ______ (get) angry. | If my brother plays loud music, my parents get angry. |
| 4) If it ______ (rain), the streets ______ (be) wet. | If it rains, the streets are wet. |
| 5) Complete with the correct order: You feel better / if / you / exercise / regularly. | You feel better if you exercise regularly. |
| 6) Choose: If / When I drink too much coffee, I can’t sleep. | When I drink too much coffee, I can’t sleep. (If is also possible.) |
| 7) Make it negative: If we have a meeting, we start at 9:00. | If we don’t have a meeting, we don’t start at 9:00. |
| 8) Write a question: you / feel / tired / if / you / go to bed late? | Do you feel tired if you go to bed late? |
| 9) Correct the sentence for zero conditional: If you touch fire, you will burn. | If you touch fire, you burn. |
| 10) Complete: If people ______ (drive) carefully, there ______ (be) fewer accidents. | If people drive carefully, there are fewer accidents. |
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