Zero Conditional: General Truths
The Zero Conditional connects a specific condition to a guaranteed, factual result that happens every single time.
The Rule in 30 Seconds
- Use for facts, habits, and general truths that are always true.
- The structure is 'If + Present Simple, Present Simple'.
- You can replace 'if' with 'when' without changing the meaning.
- Both parts of the sentence must stay in the present tense.
Quick Reference
| Condition (If/When) | Result (Present Simple) | Type of Truth |
|---|---|---|
| If you heat water to 100°C | it boils | Scientific Fact |
| When I exercise | I feel energized | Personal Habit |
| If you mix red and blue | you get purple | General Truth |
| If it rains | the ground gets wet | Natural Law |
| When the sun goes down | it gets dark | Daily Routine |
| If you don't sleep | you feel tired | Biological Fact |
| If you press 'Delete' | the file disappears | Instruction/Rule |
关键例句
3 / 8If you touch fire, you get burned.
Si tocas el fuego, te quemas.
When I wake up late, I miss the bus.
Cuando me despierto tarde, pierdo el autobús.
If you are tired, go to bed.
Si estás cansado, ve a la cama.
The 'When' Swap
If you aren't sure if it's zero conditional, try replacing 'if' with 'when'. If the meaning stays the same, it's definitely zero conditional!
The 'Will' Trap
Avoid using 'will' in these sentences. It's the most common error. Keep it simple with the present tense for both parts.
The Rule in 30 Seconds
- Use for facts, habits, and general truths that are always true.
- The structure is 'If + Present Simple, Present Simple'.
- You can replace 'if' with 'when' without changing the meaning.
- Both parts of the sentence must stay in the present tense.
Overview
Think of the zero conditional as a cause-and-effect machine. You put something in, and the same result always comes out. It is the most honest part of English grammar. It does not deal with guesses or maybes. It only deals with facts and certainties. You use it to talk about things that are always true. Think about gravity or basic math. If you drop a ball, it falls. If you add two and two, you get four. It is like a grammar traffic light. Red always means stop. Green always means go. You can trust this grammar completely. It never lies to you. It describes the world exactly as it is. You will hear it in science labs and kitchens. You will use it for rules and daily habits. It is simple, clear, and very powerful.
How This Grammar Works
This grammar works by linking two present simple actions together. The first action is the condition. The second action is the automatic result. It works because the result is 100% guaranteed. If the condition happens, the result must follow. There is no room for doubt here. It is not about a specific time in the future. It is about how the world works every day. You are describing a permanent connection between two events. It is like a computer program. If you click 'save', the computer stores the file. This happens every single time. Even native speakers use this to simplify their lives. It makes your instructions very clear. It makes your facts sound professional and sharp.
Formation Pattern
- 1Start your sentence with the word
iforwhen. - 2Add a subject and a verb in the present simple tense.
- 3Put a comma here if you started with
if. - 4Add another subject and another verb in the present simple.
- 5You can also reverse the order of the two parts.
- 6If the result comes first, you do not need a comma.
- 7Use
iffor conditions that might happen sometimes. - 8Use
whenfor things that you know will happen.
When To Use It
You use the zero conditional for scientific facts. If you heat ice, it melts. This is a law of nature. You also use it for general truths. If it rains, the grass gets wet. This is not a surprise to anyone. Use it for your personal habits too. If I drink coffee at night, I stay awake. This is true for you every time. It is great for giving instructions. If you press the red button, the machine stops. You can use it in job interviews. If a candidate smiles, they seem more confident. Use it when ordering food at a restaurant. If you order the combo, you save two dollars. It works for rules in sports or games. If you hit the net, you lose the point.
When Not To Use It
Do not use this for specific future plans. If you are talking about tomorrow, use the first conditional. Do not use it for imaginary situations. If you are dreaming about being a king, use the second conditional. This grammar is not for 'maybe' or 'perhaps'. It is only for 'always' and 'usually'. If the result is not certain, avoid this pattern. Do not use it for one-time events in the past. It is strictly for things that are true right now. It is also true in the past and future. It is a timeless grammar pattern. If you are guessing, you are using the wrong tool. Keep it for the facts you know for sure.
Common Mistakes
Many people try to use will in the result clause. This is a very common mistake. You should say If it rains, the grass gets wet. Do not say If it rains, the grass will get wet. That changes the meaning to a specific event. Another mistake is forgetting the s on third-person verbs. Remember to say If he eats peanuts, he gets sick. Do not forget the comma when if is at the start. It helps the reader see the two separate parts. Some people confuse if and when in this pattern. In the zero conditional, they are often the same. However, when implies the condition happens more often. Yes, even native speakers mess this up sometimes. Just keep both verbs in the present simple.
Contrast With Similar Patterns
The zero conditional is different from the first conditional. The zero conditional is about 100% certainty. The first conditional is about a specific possibility. Zero: If I eat chocolate, I get a headache. This always happens. First: If I eat this chocolate, I will get a headache. This is about one specific piece of chocolate. The zero conditional is a general rule. The first conditional is a future prediction. Think of zero as a circle that never ends. Think of the first conditional as a straight line to tomorrow. One is a fact, and the other is a plan. Choosing the right one changes your whole meaning. Use zero for the 'big truths' of your life.
Quick FAQ
Q. Can I use unless?
A. Yes, unless means if not. Unless you water plants, they die is a fact.
Q. Is it okay to use can?
A. Yes, you can use modal verbs like can or must. If you have a passport, you can travel.
Q. Does it work for negative sentences?
A. Absolutely. If you don't eat, you get hungry.
Q. Can I use the imperative?
A. Yes, this is very common for instructions. If you feel sick, go to the doctor.
Q. Is this only for science?
A. No, use it for any rule or habit. It is for anything that is consistently true.
Reference Table
| Condition (If/When) | Result (Present Simple) | Type of Truth |
|---|---|---|
| If you heat water to 100°C | it boils | Scientific Fact |
| When I exercise | I feel energized | Personal Habit |
| If you mix red and blue | you get purple | General Truth |
| If it rains | the ground gets wet | Natural Law |
| When the sun goes down | it gets dark | Daily Routine |
| If you don't sleep | you feel tired | Biological Fact |
| If you press 'Delete' | the file disappears | Instruction/Rule |
The 'When' Swap
If you aren't sure if it's zero conditional, try replacing 'if' with 'when'. If the meaning stays the same, it's definitely zero conditional!
The 'Will' Trap
Avoid using 'will' in these sentences. It's the most common error. Keep it simple with the present tense for both parts.
Comma Logic
Think of the comma as a bridge. If 'If' starts the sentence, you need the bridge. If 'If' is in the middle, the bridge is already there!
Polite Instructions
In English-speaking offices, we use zero conditional to explain rules politely. It sounds less bossy than saying 'Do this!'
例句
8If you touch fire, you get burned.
Focus: get burned
Si tocas el fuego, te quemas.
A universal physical law that never changes.
When I wake up late, I miss the bus.
Focus: miss
Cuando me despierto tarde, pierdo el autobús.
This describes a consistent personal consequence.
If you are tired, go to bed.
Focus: go
Si estás cansado, ve a la cama.
The result can be a command or instruction.
If you have a ticket, you can enter.
Focus: can enter
Si tienes un boleto, puedes entrar.
Modals like 'can' work well in the result clause.
If a customer complains, the manager handles it.
Focus: handles
Si un cliente se queja, el gerente se encarga.
Used to describe standard business procedures.
✗ If you will freeze water, it becomes ice. → ✓ If you freeze water, it becomes ice.
Focus: freeze
Si congelas el agua, se convierte en hielo.
Never use 'will' in the 'if' clause.
✗ If it rains, the grass will get wet. → ✓ If it rains, the grass gets wet.
Focus: gets
Si llueve, la hierba se moja.
Use present simple for general truths, not future 'will'.
When demand increases, prices usually rise.
Focus: rise
Cuando la demanda aumenta, los precios suelen subir.
Describes economic principles or general trends.
自我测试
Complete the sentence with the correct form of the verb in the present simple.
If you ___ (not/water) plants, they die.
In the zero conditional, we use the present simple for both parts of the sentence.
Choose the correct result for this general truth.
When the sun sets, it ___ dark.
We use 'gets' (present simple) because this is a daily, factual occurrence.
Identify the correct structure for a workplace rule.
If an employee ___ late, they must call the office.
The 'if' clause requires the present simple 'arrives' for a general rule.
🎉 得分： /3
视觉学习工具
Zero vs. First Conditional
Is it Zero Conditional?
Is the result a 100% certainty?
Are you talking about a general rule?
Use: If + Present Simple + Present Simple
Real-World Scenarios
At the Gym
- • If you lift weights, you get stronger.
- • When you run, your heart rate rises.
In the Kitchen
- • If you add salt, it tastes better.
- • When you bake bread, it smells great.
常见问题
20 个问题It is a sentence structure used to talk about things that are always true. It connects a condition with a certain result, like If you heat ice, it melts.
It is called 'zero' because there is zero doubt about the result. Unlike other conditionals, this one describes facts rather than possibilities.
Yes, you can use when and the meaning is almost identical. When it rains, the ground gets wet is just as correct as using if.
It is extremely common for giving directions, explaining rules, or talking about habits. You probably use it every day without realizing it.
Only if the if clause comes first. If you say Ice melts if you heat it, you do not need a comma.
No, the zero conditional specifically uses the present simple. If you use the past tense, you are likely talking about a past habit instead.
That is perfectly fine and very common for instructions. For example, If you are late, call me uses an imperative as the result.
Yes, unless works as a negative condition. For example, Unless it rains, the garden stays dry is a valid zero conditional.
Yes, modal verbs can replace the present simple in the result clause. If you have a key, you can open the door is a great example.
The zero conditional is for general truths (If I eat nuts, I get sick). The first conditional is for a specific future event (If I eat this nut, I will get sick).
Yes, this is the primary way we express scientific laws in English. If you mix oil and water, they separate is a classic example.
Absolutely, it is perfect for habits. If I wake up early, I go for a run describes your normal routine.
The most common mistake is adding will to the result clause. Remember, facts don't need will because they are always true, not just true once in the future.
No, the meaning stays the same. You can say If it's hot, I turn on the fan or I turn on the fan if it's hot.
Yes, whenever adds emphasis that the result happens every single time. Whenever it rains, the roof leaks is a strong zero conditional.
It is both! It is used in casual conversation and in very formal scientific or legal writing.
Use don't or doesn't in either part. If you don't study, you don't pass is a common (and sad) general truth.
Most languages have a way to express general truths, but they might use different tenses. In English, we strictly stick to the present simple.
Usually, we stick to the present simple. However, you might occasionally see If you're driving, don't use your phone, which is a similar factual rule.
Try writing down five things that are always true for you. Use the If..., ... pattern to describe your daily habits or house rules.
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