Usage
1. To describe cause-and-effect connections, facts, physical or well-known phenomena
If you heat water to 100°, it boils.
Plants die if they are not watered enough.
If ice melts if it becomes water.
If the sun shines in Spain, the weather is usually hot.
2. To describe actions that are repeated or regular (natural)
If I go out with friends, we normally go to a nice restaurant.
If I’m tired, I go to bed at about 8 p.m.
When I find a good series on Netflix, I often binge watch all weekend.
If you fly with low cost airlines, the drinks are expensive.
3. In proverbs and sayings.
It's bad luck if the groom sees the bride before the wedding.
When it rains it pours. – Прийшла біда – відчиняй ворота.
If there's no God, there's no virtue. – Якщо немає Бога, то немає і чеснот.
4. In instructions and rules using the imperative form in the main clause
If you want to come, text me before 14:00.
If you don’t want to be late, get a taxi.
If you’re in the museum, don’t use your mobile phone.
Instead of Present Simple, you can also use modal
verbs in the if-clause and main clause.
If you want to keep fit, you should exercise at least 3 times a
week.
If you can’t see this text, you need glasses.
People can't fish in this river unless (= if not) they have a
permit.
If the traffic light changes to amber, drivers must stop.
There are other interesting Zero Conditional sentence structures. For example, to emphasize the
moment of action in the present tense, we can use the Present Continuous in one or both parts of
a conditional sentence.
If he’s driving now, he’s listening to the radio.
If the baby is sleeping, she can relax.
If you’re overweight, you’re probably eating too much fatty food and sugar.
Condition
Result
If + Present Continuous,
If + Present Continuous,
If + Present Simple,
Present Continuous
Present Simple
Present Continuous
How can it be without the Present Perfect? Yes, and even in Zero Conditional, this tense can be used.
For example:
If I've eaten too much for breakfast, I tend to feel sleepy in the afternoon
When we’ve finished work, we go to the swimming pool.
If he has moved into his new flat, he doesn’t need to take a bus anymore.
In written language and official correspondence, you can also find the light version of Zero Conditional,
when there is no predicate in the if-clause:
If in doubt, ask for help. (= If you are in doubt, ask for help.)
If interested, please let me know. (= If you are interested, please let me know.)
It is interesting that Zero Conditional is also used with the past tense: Past Simple, Past
Continuous (Zero Conditional in the past):
If it was Mery, why didn’t she stop?
If she visited Paris, the first thing she used to do was go to the Louvre.
If we got home late, my mom shouted at us.
If Ann was upset, she just stared into the distance without saying a word.
If he was driving, he was listening to the news
If people didn’t have food, they were starving.
Condition
Result
If + Past Simple,
If + Past Continuous,
If + Past Simple,
Past Simple
Past Continuous
Past Continuous
It is important to emphasize that you can use other conjunctions instead of if (conjunctions: when,
whenever, unless, on condition that, even if, etc.):
When/ Whenever it rains, we play football indoors instead.
Unless I’m late for work, I always catch a train.
There's no chance of you getting the job unless you apply.
Metal melts on condition that it is heated.
My sister often shouts at her children even if there's no need.
Comma in the conditional sentences :
If I wake up at 6 a.m., I feel sleepy. – I feel sleepy If I wake up at 6 a.m.
If you touch a fire, you get burned. – You get burned if you touch a fire.
When you keep milk in the refrigerator, it lasts longer. – It lasts longer when you keep milk in the refrigerator.
We can use double negation with conditionals (!)
If I don’t eat enough protein, I don’t get energy.
If there is nobody at home, I can’t get inside.
Intonation in Zero Conditional
1.Take a short pause in Zero Conditional between the first and second parts:
If you see Jack, (pause) please ask him to call me as soon as possible.
If she goes for a job interview, (pause) she always does some research on a company first.
2.The intonation goes up (➚) at the end of the first part and down (➘) at the end of the
second part on the last stressed word. For example:
If he ➚calls, ask him to leave a ➘message.
If you have any ➚problems with your order, just ➘contact us.
Homework
• https://www.perfect-englishgrammar.com/zero-conditional-exercise-1.html