Lesson 5: Zero Conditional

Zero Conditional
We use the zero conditional to express certainty. The result of the condition is always true. For example, if you heat water to 100 C, it boils. This is a scientific fact. If you jump into a swimming pool, you get wet. This is a fact of life. Here are a few other examples of zero conditional sentences:

When to use the zero conditional

Examples

When we use the zero conditional, we are thinking about a result that is always true for this condition. The condition always has the same result.

If you heat ice, it melts

We are not thinking about the future or the past or even the present. We are simply stating an obvious fact. Remember that if the condition is true the consequence is automatically true.

If you walk in the rain without an umbrella, you get wet

We can of course also have a negative condition

If you dont refrigerate milk, it goes bad

Formation
The structure is quite simple. Both the conditional and the result clauses use verbs in the Present Simple tense. If + present simple (true condition) + present simple (certain result) If you heat ice, it melts The clauses can be inverted: present simple (certain result) if + present simple (true condition) Ice melts if you heat it (no comma) Notice that its also possible to substitute when for if. For example: When you walk in the rain without an umbrella, you get wet When you heat ice, it melts When you dont refrigerate milk, it goes bad And a final example: If you don't go to English class, you don't learn English

LINGUAPUNCTURE

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