The Zero Conditional is used to talk about things that are always true or 100% certain. It describes:
✅ Scientific facts
✅ General truths
✅ Rules and instructions
✅ Habits and routines
• If you heat ice, it melts. (Scientific fact)
• If it rains, the ground gets wet. (General truth)
• If I am tired, I go to bed early. (Habit)
📝 2. Formation (Structure)
✅ Zero Conditional Formula
If/When + Present Simple, Present Simple
Examples of Each Part
If clause (condition) → Result clause
• If you heat water → it boils.
• If I am late → my teacher gets angry.
• If she studies → she gets good grades.
📊 Conjugation Table
If Clause
Result Clause
If you heat ice
it melts.
If I drink coffee at night
I can't sleep.
If she practices every day
she improves.
If they run fast
they get tired.
🎯 3. When to Use Zero Conditional
✅ Use Case 1: Scientific Facts
Things that are always true according to science.
• If you freeze water, it becomes ice.
• If you mix blue and yellow, you get green.
• If you drop a glass, it breaks.
✅ Use Case 2: General Truths
Things that are always true in life.
• If you don't eat, you get hungry.
• If you don't sleep, you feel tired.
• If it rains, the grass gets wet.
✅ Use Case 3: Habits and Routines
Things that always happen in your daily life.
• If I have free time, I watch TV.
• If she is tired, she drinks coffee.
• If they are in London, they visit the museum.
✅ Use Case 4: Instructions and Rules
Directions that are always followed.
• If the light is red, you stop.
• If you finish your homework, you can play.
• If the alarm rings, you leave the building.
🔄 4. IF vs WHEN in Zero Conditional
Word
Meaning
Example
IF
condition (it may or may not happen)
If you heat ice, it melts.
WHEN
time (it will definitely happen)
When you heat ice, it melts.
💡 Pro Tip: In Zero Conditional, "if" and "when" have almost the same meaning because the result is always 100% true!
💬 5. Examples by Category (50+ Examples)
📌 Scientific Facts (10 examples)
1. If you heat water to 100°C, it boils.
2. If you freeze water, it turns into ice.
3. If you mix red and white, you get pink.
4. If you drop an apple, it falls to the ground.
5. If you add salt to water, it boils at a higher temperature.
6. If you leave metal in the rain, it rusts.
7. If you heat a balloon, it expands.
8. If you cool air, it becomes denser.
9. If you put oil in water, it floats.
10. If you burn paper, it turns to ash.
📌 General Truths (10 examples)
11. If you don't eat, you get hungry.
12. If you don't sleep, you feel tired.
13. If you exercise regularly, you stay healthy.
14. If you study hard, you get good grades.
15. If you save money, you become rich.
16. If you practice every day, you improve.
17. If you eat too much, you gain weight.
18. If you smoke, your health suffers.
19. If you drink water, you stay hydrated.
20. If you help others, they appreciate you.
📌 Daily Habits (10 examples)
21. If I wake up early, I go for a run.
22. If she is tired, she drinks coffee.
23. If they have free time, they play video games.
24. If I feel stressed, I listen to music.
25. If he is hungry, he eats a sandwich.
26. If we finish work early, we go to the cinema.
27. If my mom is happy, she bakes a cake.
28. If the weather is nice, I walk to work.
29. If I have a headache, I take a pill.
30. If she is bored, she reads a book.
📌 Rules and Instructions (10 examples)
31. If the light is red, you stop.
32. If the teacher speaks, you listen.
33. If you finish your test, you check your answers.
34. If the door is locked, you use your key.
35. If the phone rings, you answer it.
36. If the alarm goes off, you leave the building.
37. If the computer freezes, you restart it.
38. If the battery is low, you charge your phone.
39. If you see a fire, you call 911.
40. If the sign says "Stop", you stop your car.
📌 Negative Sentences (10 examples)
41. If you don't water plants, they die.
42. If you don't practice, you don't improve.
43. If you don't study, you don't pass the exam.
44. If you don't exercise, you become unhealthy.
45. If you don't save money, you don't have savings.
46. If you don't sleep enough, you feel tired.
47. If you don't eat breakfast, you feel hungry at noon.
48. If you don't charge your phone, it turns off.
49. If you don't wear a coat, you feel cold.
50. If you don't brush your teeth, you get cavities.
❌ 6. Common Mistakes
Mistake
Correction
❌ If you will heat ice, it melts.
✅ If you heat ice, it melts.
❌ If you heat ice, it will melt.
✅ If you heat ice, it melts.
❌ If she is tired, she will drink coffee.
✅ If she is tired, she drinks coffee.
❌ If I am late, my teacher get angry.
✅ If I am late, my teacher gets angry.
⚠️ Important: In Zero Conditional, we use Present Simple in BOTH parts. Do NOT use "will" or other future forms!
✍️ 7. Practice Exercises
Exercise 1: Complete the sentences
1. If you ______ (heat) ice, it ______ (melt).
2. If you ______ (mix) blue and yellow, you ______ (get) green.
3. If she ______ (study), she ______ (get) good grades.
4. If I ______ (be) tired, I ______ (go) to bed early.
5. If you ______ (not/eat), you ______ (get) hungry.
Exercise 2: Choose the correct form
1. If you (heat / will heat) water, it boils.
2. If she studies, she (gets / will get) good grades.
3. If I am late, my teacher (is / will be) angry.
4. If you (don't / won't) water plants, they die.
5. If it rains, the grass (gets / will get) wet.
Exercise 3: Match the sentence halves
Column A:
1. If you don't sleep, ...
2. If you mix red and white, ...
3. If you heat water to 100°C, ...
4. If you drop a glass, ...
5. If you don't eat, ...
Column B:
a. it breaks.
b. you get tired.
c. it boils.
d. you get hungry.
e. you get pink.
Q1.What is the difference between Zero Conditional and First Conditional?▼
Zero Conditional is for 100% true facts and general truths (If you heat ice, it melts). First Conditional is for real possibilities in the future (If it rains tomorrow, I will stay home).
Q2.Can I use 'when' instead of 'if' in Zero Conditional?▼
Yes! In Zero Conditional, 'if' and 'when' have the same meaning because the result is always true. Example: 'If/When you heat water, it boils.'
Q3.What tense do we use in Zero Conditional?▼
We use Present Simple in BOTH the 'if' clause and the result clause. Example: If + present simple, present simple.