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Zero conditional
(if clause)

Presentation / Objective

In this section, you are going to practice the zero conditional. It is used to talk about general truths and facts which will happen.

You are going to review conditions that occur in our context and that had occurred before, and the result is always the same. You already know facts, like your habits for example:

  • If you do not sleep well, you feel tired.

What about your context:

  • If people use aerosols, they pollute the air. . 

For instance:

  • If you heat water, it is going to boil at 212º F.

Thus, water always boils at that temperature. This condition happens now and always.

Objective:

By the end of this topic you will:
• Use the if clause and the present simple to express real conditions in situations that will happen and the result is always the same.

Content

Zero Conditional (if clause)

To form the Zero Conditional, you have to mention a real condition and a result that always happens:

If Clause
If Condition
Present Simple

Main Clause
Result
Present Simple

A real condition refers to:

  • General Truths
  • Natural Laws
  • Scientific Facts
  • Facts
  • Habits
  • Daily Routines
  • Rules

 

Examples:

If you heat ice, it melts.
(This is a scientific fact, so every time someone heats ice, it is going to melt.)

If students do not study for exams, they fail them.
(This always happens, so students have to study if they want to pass the exams.)

We also use when instead of if when we are sure that the conditions are going to happen.

  • When you heat ice, it melts.
  • When students do not study for exams, they fail them.

We also use unless instead of If not:

  • Unless you eat healthily, you get overweight.
  • Unless students study before exams, they fail them.

Reading

Activity 1

Things that are always true!

This topic is about general truths using an “if” clause in present simple (zero conditional). Remember that this conditional indicates a fact that happens and the result is always the same. Moreover, it is common to be used in subjects like mathematics, science or just for expressing general truths.

Read the following paragraphs and then choose if the statements are True (T) or False (F).

Listening

Activity 2

More Facts…

In the following activity, you will listen to a narrator talking about the effects that alcohol have on your body. Listen, then match the clauses according to the information you hear from the recording.

Click here to listen to the recording:

 



 

 

Writing

Activity 3

General Truths

Remember that when you use the zero conditional for talking about facts or general truths, you have to use it with the If clause (the first sentence) and the consequence (the second sentence) both in simple present.


Exemplify a description where you describe facts by using the If Clause (zero conditional).

  1. First, select a topic (it could be natural laws, facts, scientific facts, habits or rules).
  2. Then, identify the facts and the consequences that always happen.
  3. After that, write down at least ten sentences using the zero conditional structure. Check the following example.
  4. Check your grammar and spelling. Remember to follow the checklist aspects.
  5. Check your performance by considering the following checklist.

Speaking

Activity 4

Telling General Truths

In a conversation when you talk about general truths or facts that happen and the result is always the same, you use the zero conditional (if clause) and simple present in the result clause.


To have a better idea of this activity, read the previous paragraphs about coffee, obesity and water again. Then select a topic and create your sentences, using the zero conditional structure. This time it is your turn to talk about facts.

Organise your talk by the following aspects:

  1. Introduce the fact you are interested in.
  2. Mention five ideas that best describe them.
  3. Use the If clause (zero conditional) and the present simple to sum up your talk.
  4. Next, verify your pronunciation and intonation (you can use a digital dictionary to help you).
  5. Make sure your speech has the characteristics contained in the checklist.
  6. Remember to use this link as an example, then compare your work.

Compare your file with the audio provided. You can self-evaluate your audio with the following rubrics.

Self-assessment

Zero conditional quiz

You can practice the Zero conditional to express facts that always happen. So, here are some questions to make sure you have achieved the objective of this topic. Choose the best option in the following exercise.

Self-assessment

The results are always the same.

Remember that the zero conditional structure is: a condition and a result that always happen (both in the simple present tense).

Reference

Basics references

Hong Kong Observatory. (2003). Earthquake safety rules. Retrieved from: http://www.hko.gov.hk/gts/equake/eq_safety_e.htm
Perfect English Grammar. (2017). Zero conditional. Website: http://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/zero-conditional.html
Education First. (2017). Zero conditional. Website: http://www.ef.com/english-resources/english-grammar/zero-conditional/
English Club. (2017). Zero conditional. Website: https://www.englishclub.com/grammar/verbs-conditional_5.htm

Complementary

Mironova, M. (2017).  Conditionals: Zero and First. Grammar with Mary. Podcast: https://www.enpodcast.com/podcasts/item/conditionals-zero-and-first/