Zero Conditional Exercises and Examples

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

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".

Incorrect: If you heat ice, it will melt.
Correct: 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"!

Incorrect: If you will eat too much, you will feel sick.
Correct: If you eat too much, you feel sick.