ZERO CONDITIONAL AND FIRST CONDITIONAL
The conditionals are used to talk about possible or imaginary situations
ZERO CONDITIONAL
CONCEPT
We use the zero conditional when we want to talk about facts or things that are generally true. Scientific facts are often covered by the zero conditional: "When you heat ice, it melts."
As with all conditional sentences, the order of propositions is not fixed. It may be necessary to modify pronouns and punctuation by reversing the order of the propositions but the meaning of the sentence will not change. In "zero conditional" sentences, "if" can be replaced by "when" without affecting the meaning, since both terms serve to express general facts.
The zero conditional is also usually used to give instructions and, in this
- If Bill phones, tell him to meet me at the cinema.
- Ask Pete if you're not sure what to do.
- If you want to come, call me before 5:00.
- Meet me here if we get separated.
Zero Conditional is used to make claims about the real world and usually refers to general facts that we take for granted, such as scientific facts. In these sentences the time frame is now or always and the situation is real and possible.
- Plants die if they don't get enough water.
- If my husband has a cold, I usually catch it.
- If public transport is efficient, people stop using their cars.
- If you mix red and blue, you get purple.
AFIRMATIVE
If + present simple (,) present simple
If you heat ice, it melts (If you heat ice, it melts) or vice versa
Ice melts if you heat it (The ice melts if you heat it)
NEGATIVE
If + present simple + negation (,) present simple
If I do not drink water, I die (If I do not drink water I die) or vice versa
I die if I don'drink water (I'm dying if I do not drink water?
QUESTION
For the interrogative form there is no structure in itself, it can only be combined, for example:
If you mix white and black paint, What do you get?
VIDEOS EXTRA
EXAMPLE
Put the verbs in brackets into the correct tenses.
1 If I see him, I (give) him a lift.
2 The table will break if you (sit) on it.
3 If he (eat) all that, he will be ill.
4 If I find your passport, I (telephone) you.
5 The police (arrest) him, if they catch him.
6 If he (read) in bad light, he will ruin his eyes.
7 Someone (steal) your car if you leave it unlocked.
8 What will happen if my parachute (not open)?
9 If he (wash) my car, I'll give him $10.
10 If she (need) a radio, she can borrow mine.
11 If you (not go) away, I'll call the police.
12 I'll be very angry if he (make) any more mistakes.
13 If he (be) late, we'll go without him.
14 She will be absolutely furious if she (hear) about this.
15 If you put on the kettle, I (make) some tea.
16 If you give my dog a bone, he (bury) it.
17 If we leave the car here, it (not be) in anybody's way.
18 He'll be late for the train if he (not start) at once.
19 If you come late, they (not let) you in.
20 If he (go) on telling lies, nobody will believe a word he says.
21 Unless he (sell) more, he won't get much commission.
22 If I lend you $10, when you (repay) me?
23 We'll have to move upstairs if the river (rise) any higher.
24 If he (work) hard today, can he have a holiday tomorrow?
25 Ice (turn) to water if you heat it.
26 If the house (burn) down, we can claim compensation.
27 If you (not like) this one, I'll bring you another.
28 Unless you are more careful, you (have) an accident.
29 Tell him to ring me up if you (see) him.
30 If I tell you a secret, you (promise) not to tell it to anyone else?
31 If you (not believe) what I say, ask your mother.
32 If he (like) the house, will he buy it?
33 If you kindly sit down, I (make) enquiries for you.
34 Unless I have a quiet room, I (not be able) to do any work.
35 She won't open the door unless she (know) who it is.
36 Should you require anything else, please (ring) the bell for the attendant.
FIRST CONDITIONAL
CONCEPT
The first conditional has the present simple after 'if', then the future simple in the other clause:
- if + present simple, ... will + infinitive
It's used to talk about things which might happen in the future. Of course, we can't know what will happen in the future, but this describes possible things, which could easily come true.
The first conditional is used to express future plans, threats, warnings, promises or to convince someone about something- If it rains, I won't go to the park.
- If I study today, I'll go to the party tonight.
- If I have enough money, I'll buy some new shoes.
- She'll be late if the train is delayed.
- She'll miss the bus if she doesn't leave soon.
- If I see her, I'll tell her.
The first conditional has the following structure:
For the phrase of the future we mostly use the simple future with will, but we can also use the simple future with going to or a modal verb: can, might, should, or must.
If + subject + present simple, subject + future simple
For the phrase of the future we mostly use the simple future with will, but we can also use the simple future with going to or a modal verb: can, might, should, or must.
| FIRST CONDITIONAL | |
|---|---|
| WILL | If the weather is nice on Sunday, we'll go on a picnic |
| GOING TO | If I don't have to go to work tomorrow, I am going to visit my parents |
| CAN | If the meeting finishes early, we can go for a drink |
| MIGHT | If I have time this afternoon, I might wash my car |
| SHOULD | If they invite you, you should go |
| MUST | If you have any problems, you must call me |
If the weather is fine tomorrow, If you study hard, you'll get good marks.
we will go cycling.
The first conditional describes a particular situation, whereas the zero conditional describes what happens in general.
EXAMPLES
For example (zero conditional): if you sit in the sun, you get burned (here I'm talking about every time a person sits in the sun - the burning is a natural consequence of the sitting)
But (first conditional): if you sit in the sun, you'll get burned (here I'm talking about what will happen today, another day might be different)
a) If you (help) me with my homework, I (finish) it in time to go to the cinema.
b) If it (not/rain), the students (practice) sport in the playground.
c) Jane (come) home early if she (not/be) very busy at work.
d) Our teacher (be) pleased if we (do) our homework.
e) If Robert (play) football with us, we (win) the match.
VIDEOS
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