The 0 (zero) conditional is the easiest to understand!
It is
also called the real or factual conditional because it is
used to talk about facts, or something that is always true.
If I eat too much, I get sick.
The result [I get sick] is always true of the condition [if I
eat too much]. It is a fact! There is a fixed connection
between the two events.
The zero conditional form:
If + simple present, simple present
This conditional is easy because you don’t have to remember which clause goes
where or which verb tense is used, you just have to remember:
facts, habits, daily routines, rules, general truths = present simple
Every day I take the train to work. If I miss the train, I drive to work.
Example sentences:
Ice melts if you heat it.
If I drink, I never drive.
It’s bad luck if the groom sees the bride before the wedding!
If the banana is yellow, it is ripe and ready to eat!
If you’re happy, I’m happy!
I always ask for directions if I get lost.
I don’t let a cold stop me! I still go to work if I get sick.
If I don’t sleep well, I am really cranky in the morning.
You can also use modals in the result clause:
I can’t drive if I don’t have my glasses.
If you want to go to university, you must study hard.
If you want to lose weight, you should eat less and exercise more.
You can’t drive a car if you don’t have a license.
iSLCollective.com
You can also use the imperative in the result clause
If you drink, don’t drive.
Please don’t disturb me if I am asleep!
If you’re hungry, eat something!
When can be used instead of if:
When I cook fish, the house always smells.
I always smoke when I drink.
When I go to the movies, I eat a bag of popcorn.
When it rains, it pours! [English proverb]
When I’m sad, I go shopping.
I listen to my ipod when I jog.
Unless can also be used instead of if not:
I can’t drive unless I have my glasses.
[I can't drive if I don't have my glasses.]
You can’t drive a car unless you have a license.
[You can't drive a car if you don't have a license.]
You can also think of the zero conditional this
way:
If + present tense, simple present
In the if clause, you can use the present
continuous tense:
If I am driving, I never answer my cell phone.
When I’m reading, my cat sits on my lap.
I listen to my ipod when I’m jogging.
Please don’t disturb me if I am sleeping!
iSLCollective.com
ZERO CONDITIONAL
IF
+ Pres. Simple + + Pres. Simple
WHEN
1. Join these sentences so they make sense.
1. If I see chocolate, I want to dance!
2. If I hear music, we stay indoors.
3. If my room isn’t clean, I ask my teacher.
4. If it rains, I want to eat it!
5. If I need help, she goes to the beach.
6. If she has free time at the weekend, my mum is very angry!
2. Put the verbs in the correct tense.
1. If you ______________ (not study), you ______________ (not get) good grades.
2. I ______________ (to feel) more energized when I ______________ (to exercise).
3. If you ______________ (not water) your plants regularly, they ______________ (to die).
4. When you ______________ (to mix) blue and yellow, you ______________ (to get) green.
5. Luna ______________ (to get) a stomach ache when she ______________ (to eat) too many
candies.
6. If it ______________ (to rain) a lot, everybody ______________(to be) grumpy.
7. If you ______________ (to put) a spicy pepper in your mouth, what ______________ (to
happen)?
8. When my mum ______________ (to cook) dinner, it ______________ (to burn).
9. If a dog ______________ (to sense) danger, it ______________ (not keep) quiet.
10. Your skills ______________ (not improve) if you ______________ (not practice).
11. How ______________ you ______________ (to feel) if you ______________ (to forget) a friend’s
birthday?
12. If Tom’s daughter ______________ (to drink) milk, she ______________ (to get) sick.
13. A cat ______________ (to run) after a mouse when it ______________ (to see) one.
14. They ______________ (to cycle) to work when the weather ______________ (to be) fine.
15. Lots of people ______________ (to come) if Sophia ______________ (to have) a party.
3. Correct the mistakes in these sentences.
1. If you freeze water, it turn into ice.
2. Alexander stays in bed when he be sick.
3. If I overslept, I don’t have any breakfast.
4. A ball doesn’t fall to the ground if you drop it into the air.
5. When babies are hungry, they cries.
6. If you put butter near the fire, it melted.
7. If I don’t go to bed late, I feel tired the next day.
iSLCollective.com
ANSWERS
1. Join these sentences so they make sense.
1. If I see chocolate, I want to dance!
2. If I hear music, we stay indoors.
3. If my room isn’t clean, I ask my teacher.
4. If it rains, I want to eat it!
5. If I need help, she goes to the beach.
6. If she has free time at the weekend, my mum is very angry!
2. Put the verbs in the correct tense.
1. If you don’t study (not study), you don’t get (not get) good grades.
2. I feel (to feel) more energized when I exercise (to exercise).
3. If you don’t water (not water) your plants regularly, they die (to die).
4. When you mix (to mix) blue and yellow, you get (to get) green.
5. Luna gets (to get) a stomach ache when she eats (to eat) too many candies.
6. If it rains (to rain) a lot, everybody is (to be) grumpy.
7. If you put (to put) a spicy pepper in your mouth, what happens (to happen)?
8. When my mum cooks (to cook) dinner, it burns (to burn).
9. If a dog senses (to sense) danger, it doesn’t keep (not keep) quiet.
10. Your skills don’t improve (not improve) if you don’t practice (not practice).
11. How do you feel (to feel) if you forget (to forget) a friend’s birthday?
12. If Tom’s daughter drinks (to drink) milk, she gets (to get) sick.
13. A cat runs (to run) after a mouse when it sees (to see) one.
14. They cycle (to cycle) to work when the weather is (to be) fine.
15. Lots of people come (to come) if Sophia has (to have) a party.
3. Correct the mistakes in these sentences.
1. If you freeze water, it turn into ice. -- turns
2. Alexander stays in bed when he be sick. -- is
3. If I overslept, I don’t have any breakfast. -- oversleep
4. A ball doesn’t fall to the ground if you drop it into the air. -- falls
5. When babies are hungry, they cries. -- cry
6. If you put butter near the fire, it melted. -- melts
7. If I don’t go to bed late, I feel tired the next day. – go (or don’t feel tired without
changing don’t go).
iSLCollective.com
