UNIDAD EDUCATIVA RIOBAMBA

NAME
COURSE
DATE

ZERO (0) CONDITIONAL

Introduction
We use the zero conditional to talk about general or scientific truths and habits.

If you heat ice, it melts. (General truth)

If I drink coffee after 6pm, I can’t sleep. (Habit)

We also use it to talk about what people should do in certain situations.

If you feel tired, stop for a rest.

If you feel ill, take your medicine.

The formula is:

If/when/whenever + present simple, present simple.

Matching exercise
Match numbers 1-5 with letters a-e to make zero conditional sentences.

1. If it rains, a. The roads are dangerous.

2. If it snows, b. I try a new flavour of ice-cream
3. Whenever I visit Rome, c. Tell a security guard.
4. If you see someone stealing d. It boils.
5. When water reaches 100º C, e. We play basketball inside.

Conversation exercise

Students take them one at a time and discuss them in conversation. Encourage the use of:
“Me too/neither” or “So/neither do I”

Whenever I go on holiday… When I go to the dentist…

If I drink too much red wine… Whenever the sales are on…

If I see a beggar in the street…
When I go to the beach, I always…
If I’m feeling blue…
If I eat too much…
When I forget to do something important at
If I see a tourist with their bag open…
When it’s my birthday…
Whenever I need help at work/school…
When I watch a sad film at the cinema…
If I have free time…
 home…
Whenever I go to the city centre… When I visit my relatives…
If someone asks me for directions in the If you get hiccups…
street…
If you have a hangover… If you feel ill at work/school…

If you need to take a day off… When I have too much work to do…

Make sentences with the zero conditional.

For example: (not / rain / the flowers / die). If it doesn't rain, the flowers die.

1. (I / wake up late / I / be late for work)

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2. (my husband / cook / he / burn the food)

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3. (Julie / not wear a hat / she / get sunstroke)

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4. (children / not eat well / they / not be healthy)

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5. (you / mix water and electricity / you / get a shock)

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6. (people / eat / too many sweets / they / get fat)

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7. (you / smoke / you / get yellow fingers)

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8. (children / play outside / they / not get overweight)

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9. (you / heat ice / it / melt)

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10. (I / speak to John / he / get annoyed)

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11. (I / feel good the next day / I / go to bed early)

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12. (lots of people / come / Jenny / have a party)

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