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Zero Conditional

A conditional sentence consists of two parts: one beginning with 'if' to describe a possible situation and the other describing the consequence. There are four types of conditional sentences, with the zero conditional used for certainties and scientific facts. The structure of a zero conditional sentence involves the 'if' clause indicating the condition and the main clause indicating the result, both using the present simple tense.

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12 views3 pages

Zero Conditional

A conditional sentence consists of two parts: one beginning with 'if' to describe a possible situation and the other describing the consequence. There are four types of conditional sentences, with the zero conditional used for certainties and scientific facts. The structure of a zero conditional sentence involves the 'if' clause indicating the condition and the main clause indicating the result, both using the present simple tense.

Uploaded by

Rosalba Reyes
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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What is a Conditional Sentence?

A conditional sentence is based on the word ‘if’. There are always two parts to a conditional sentence – one
part beginning with ‘if’ to describe a possible situation, and the second part which describes the
consequence. For example:

If it rains, we’ll get wet.

We can also invert the two parts of a conditional sentence so that the ‘if’ part comes second, and this is
especially common in questions. For example:

What will you do if you miss the train?

How can you finish the project if you don’t have a computer?

What happens if the students don’t pass an exam?

There are four types of conditional sentences:

0 – The zero conditional

1 – The first conditional

2 – The second conditional

3 – The third conditional

It is also possible to mix the second and third conditional.

Zero Conditional

for certainty

If you heat ice, it melts.

We use the so-called zero conditional when the result of the condition is always true, like a scientific fact.

Take some ice. Put it in a saucepan. Heat the saucepan. What happens? The ice melts (it becomes water). You
would be surprised if it did not.

Notice that we are thinking about a result that is always true for this condition. The result of the condition is
an absolute certainty. We are not thinking about the future or the past, or even the present. We are thinking
about a simple fact. We use the Present Simple tense to talk about the condition. We also use the Present
Simple tense to talk about the result. The important thing about the zero conditional is that the condition
always has the same result.

Look at these example sentences:

Zero Conditional Uses

You normally see four main uses for the zero conditional.

Here they are:

1. Rules

 If you take your cell phone into class, it must be turned off.
 If you drink alcohol, don’t drive.
 Do not use a calculator when you write the test.

2. Scientific Facts and General Truths

 If you heat water to 100 degrees Celsius, it boils.


 If you drop something, it falls.
 When you combine oil and water, they do not mix.

3. Cause and Effect

 If you push the button, the volume increases.


 If you close the door, it locks automatically.
 The computer turns off when you disconnect the battery.

4. Routine

 I wear my boots when I work.


 She uses glasses when she drives.
 When I cook, I use olive oil.
Zero Conditional Sentence Structure Form

In order to form a zero conditional, you need to construct the sentences in two parts. These two parts of the
sentences are:

 The “If” clause = CONDITION / CAUSE
 The “main” clause = RESULT / CONSEQUENCE

CONDITION + RESULT

We use this format to form type 0 conditional sentences:

,
If/when + Present Simple sentence Present simple sentence.

If / when + + verb (simple present tense) + complement , + verb + complement.

In this sense, the result is bound to happen or it generally happens.

For instance,

 If you freeze water, it becomes solid.

Now, you can see that this sentence is a fact. It cannot be false or anything.

But we can change the order and the meaning doesn’t change.

RESULT If CONDITION

Present Simple sentence + If/when + Present simple sentence.


+ verb (simple present tense) + complement If / when + verb + complement.

It becomes solid If you freeze water

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