conditional

Zero Conditional

7Sections

The zero conditional is used to talk about general truths, scientific facts, and things that are always true. It describes situations where one thing always causes another.

Description

The zero conditional is used to talk about general truths, scientific facts, and things that are always true. It describes situations where one thing always causes another.

Structure

{"ifClause":"If + present simple","resultClause":"...present simple","formula":"If + present simple, present simple"}

Form

{"tense":"Present simple in both clauses","examples":["If you heat (present) ice, it melts (present)","If it rains (present), the ground gets (present) wet","If you add (present) 2 and 2, you get (present) 4"]}

Signal Words

  • If
  • When
  • Whenever
  • Always
  • Every time

Uses

  • {"situation":"Used for general truths, scientific facts, and things that are always true","probability":"Always true (100%)","examples":["If you freeze water, it becomes ice","If you mix blue and yellow, you get green","If plants don't get water, they die"]}

Common Mistakes

  • {"mistake":"If you will heat water, it boils","correction":"If you heat water, it boils","explanation":"Don't use 'will' in the if-clause. Use present simple."}
  • {"mistake":"If water freezes, it will become ice","correction":"If water freezes, it becomes ice","explanation":"Don't use 'will' in the result clause. Use present simple for facts."}

Examples

  • If you heat water to 100°C, it boils
  • If you freeze water, it becomes ice
  • If you mix blue and yellow, you get green
  • If you drop something, it falls
  • If metal gets hot, it expands
  • If plants don't get water, they die
  • If you burn wood, it turns to ash
  • If you boil an egg, it becomes hard
  • If ice melts, it becomes water
  • If you cut an onion, your eyes water
  • If you don't eat, you get hungry
  • If you don't sleep, you get tired
  • If you exercise regularly, you stay healthy
  • If you study hard, you learn
  • If you practise, you improve
  • If you touch fire, you get burned
  • If you work hard, you achieve results
  • If children play, they get tired
  • If you break the law, you get punished
  • If you speed, you get a fine
  • If you don't pay your bills, you get into debt
  • If you arrive late, you miss the beginning
  • If you park illegally, you get a ticket
  • If it rains, the ground gets wet
  • If the sun sets, it gets dark
  • If you press the button, the machine starts
  • If you turn off the light, it gets dark
  • If you add sugar to tea, it tastes sweet
  • If you run this code, it executes
  • If the server goes down, the website stops working
  • If you delete a file, it disappears
  • If you save a document, it gets stored
  • If you click the link, the page opens

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