Grammar › Conditionals

Zero conditional

450 fill-in-the-gap exercises, 45 tests of ten

Present tense in both halves. For things that are always true — a fact, a rule, a machine.

The pattern

Present simple on both sides:

If you mix blue and yellow, you get green.

Nothing here is about the future. The sentence describes something that happens every time.

if or when

In the zero conditional they mean almost the same thing, because the condition always happens:

If water reaches 100 degrees, it boils. When water reaches 100 degrees, it boils.

When is slightly stronger: it says the condition definitely occurs. If leaves a little room.

Instructions

Replace the second half with an imperative and you have the language of manuals and safety notices:

• If the alarm sounds, leave by the nearest exit.
• If the light flashes, check the connection.

Habits, not just science

The zero conditional is not only for physics. It covers anything reliable:

If my brother cooks, we eat late. If I don’t sleep well, I get a headache.

All forms

Examples

Taken from the 450 sentences in this drill. The answer is highlighted.

• If you exercise regularly, you get stronger.
• If you don't clean your room, it gets messy.
• If the fire goes out, the room turns cold.
• If you turn on the heater, the room becomes warm.
• If you put ice in a warm room, it melts quickly.
• If you don't have water, you feel thirsty.
• If you keep the lid on, the soup stays hot.
• If there is a power outage, the lights go out.
• If he misses the bus, he is late for work.
• If you water plants regularly, they stay healthy.
• If you eat too much junk food, you become unhealthy.
• If you don't lock the door, someone breaks in.

Mistakes to avoid

Other forms of Conditionals