3-2-1 …. Zero! Guide to the Zero Conditional

Zero Conditional

English Grammar

When we are thinking about facts which are generally true, we use:

If + Present Simple, Present Simple

• If you put water in the freezer, it becomes ice.
• If you stand in the rain, you get wet.
• If you heat ice, it melts.

You can see in the examples about the the condition always has the same result.

Notice how we use a comma after the first present simple tense clause.

We can also reverse the order and use:

Present Simple + If + Present Simple

• You get wet if you stand in the rain.
• Ice melts if you heat it.
• I can’t sleep if I drink coffee at night.
• Plants die if you don’t water them.

Notice how the comma is not necessary with this word order.

 

Next activity

See our grammar notes about the following:

• Would
• Conditionals
• First Conditional
• Second Conditional
• Third Conditional

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