Updated on March 20, 2025
by PushtoLearn
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Zero Conditional

The Zero Conditional is used for general truths, scientific facts, and things that always happen when a condition is met. Unlike the First Conditional, it does not talk about the future — it describes things that are always true.

Zero Conditional Exercises

These exercises focus on Zero Conditional

TLDR

✔️ Zero Conditional = Facts & General Truths (If + Present, Present)
✔️ Use "when" instead of "if" if the result is always true
✔️ NEVER use "will" in the Zero Conditional!
✔️ Great for science, facts, and rules

Illustration of Zero Conditional

What Is the Zero Conditional?

The Zero Conditional describes:
✔️ Scientific facts → "If you heat water to 100°C, it boils."
✔️ General truths → "If you don’t sleep, you feel tired."
✔️ Rules and instructions → "If the light is red, you stop."

📌 Fun Fact: The Zero Conditional is 100% certain—the result always happens!

Zero Conditional Structure

👉 If + Present Simple, Present Simple

✔️ Examples:

  • If you mix red and blue, you get purple. (Fact)

  • If it rains, the ground gets wet. (General truth)

  • If the sun sets, it gets dark. (Natural law)

📌 Tip: The "if" clause describes the condition (Present Simple), and the main clause shows the result (Present Simple).

Variations of the Zero Conditional

🔹 Using "when" instead of "if"
✔️ When you eat too much, you feel full.
✔️ When the temperature drops, water freezes.

📌 Tip: "If" and "when" are often interchangeable in the Zero Conditional because the result is always true.

🔹 Using the imperative in the result clause
✔️ If you feel sick, see a doctor.
✔️ If the alarm rings, leave the building.

📌 Tip: This is common for rules and instructions.

Zero Conditional vs. First Conditional

Feature

Zero Conditional

First Conditional

Meaning

Facts & general truths

Future possibilities

Tense

If + Present Simple, Present Simple

If + Present Simple, Will + Verb

Example

If you touch fire, you get burned.

If you touch fire, you will get burned.

Certainty

100% certain

Possible, not certain

Can "if" be replaced with "when"?

Yes, because it’s always true.

No, because the future is uncertain.

📌 Tip: If the result always happens, use the Zero Conditional. If the result is possible but not certain, use the First Conditional.

Common Mistakes in Zero Conditional

Mistake

Incorrect

Correct

Using "will" in the Zero Conditional

If you heat ice, it will melt.

If you heat ice, it melts.

Using the past tense

If you ate too much, you feel sick.

If you eat too much, you feel sick.

Using "would" instead of the present tense

If you press this button, the machine would stop.

If you press this button, the machine stops.

📌 Rule: NEVER use "will" in the Zero Conditional—the result is a fact, not a future event.

Compare other Conditionals: First Conditional, Second Conditional, Third Conditional, Mixed Conditionals

FAQ: Common Questions About the Zero Conditional

Can I use "will" in the Zero Conditional?

➡️ No! The Zero Conditional describes facts and general truths, which don’t need "will".

❌ If you heat ice, it will melt.
✅ If you heat ice, it melts.

Can the Zero Conditional use "when" instead of "if"?

➡️ Yes!

✔️ If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.
✔️ When you mix red and yellow, you get orange.

Can I use the Zero Conditional for giving instructions?

➡️ Yes! You can use an imperative in the result clause.

✔️ If the alarm rings, leave the building.

What’s the difference between Zero and First Conditional?

➡️ Zero Conditional = 100% true
➡️ First Conditional = Possible future

✔️ Zero Conditional: If you eat too much, you feel sick.
✔️ First Conditional: If you eat too much, you will feel sick.

What’s the biggest mistake learners make?

➡️ Using "will" after "if"!

❌ If you will eat too much, you will feel sick.
✅ If you eat too much, you feel sick.

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