Module 5: Conditionals - Lesson 5.1: Zero Conditional (General Truths and Facts)

Lesson 5.1: Zero Conditional - General Truths and Facts

Welcome to our first lesson on conditionals! We're starting with the Zero Conditional. This conditional is used to talk about situations where something is always true if a particular condition is met. We use it for expressing general truths, scientific facts, habits, and things that are universally accepted as true under certain circumstances.

When to Use the Zero Conditional

The Zero Conditional is used for situations that are:

Always True: The result in the main clause *always* happens when the condition in the 'if' clause is met. There are no exceptions.
General Truths and Facts: Used for stating facts that are always true, scientific principles, and universally accepted truths.
Habits and Routines: Can be used to describe habits or routines that consistently occur when a certain condition is present.

Structure of the Zero Conditional

The Zero Conditional has a straightforward structure:

Formula: If + Present Simple, Present Simple

Both the 'if' clause (condition) and the main clause (result) are in the Present Simple tense. You can also use "when" instead of "if" with little change in meaning in many zero conditional sentences.

Examples of Zero Conditional in Use:

General Truths and Scientific Facts:
- "If you heat water to 100 degrees Celsius, it boils." (Scientific fact - always true under normal conditions)
- "If you freeze water, it turns into ice." (Scientific fact - always true)
- "If you don't eat, you get hungry." (General biological truth)
- "If you mix blue and yellow, you get green." (General truth about color mixing)
- "If you drop an apple, it falls down." (General truth about gravity)
Habits and Routines:
- "If I drink coffee in the evening, I can't sleep." (Personal habit - consistent result of a specific action)
- "If she is late for work, her boss gets angry." (Routine consequence - consistent reaction to lateness)
- "If we go to that restaurant, we always order pizza." (Regular habit - consistent choice at a particular place)
- "When it rains, the streets get wet." (Habitual observation - consistent environmental effect) - Using "when" instead of "if"
- "When the sun goes down, it gets dark." (Daily routine - consistent natural cycle) - Using "when" instead of "if"

Variations and Key Points about Zero Conditional:

'If' or 'When': You can often use "when" instead of "if" in zero conditional sentences with little change in meaning. "When" can sometimes emphasize that something happens every time. (e.g., "When it rains, the streets get wet" = "If it rains, the streets get wet.")
Imperative in the Main Clause: You can use an imperative (command) in the main clause of a zero conditional sentence to give instructions or advice based on a condition. (e.g., "If you feel unwell, see a doctor.")
Present Simple in both clauses: Remember that both clauses must be in the Present Simple tense to form a Zero Conditional. This is key to expressing the idea of something being *always* true.

Examples with Imperative in the Main Clause:

"If you want to lose weight, eat less sugar." (Instruction/advice - imperative "eat less sugar")
"If you go to Japan, visit Kyoto." (Recommendation/advice - imperative "visit Kyoto")
"If there is a fire, evacuate the building immediately." (Instruction - imperative "evacuate the building")
"If you are feeling cold, put on a jacket." (Suggestion/advice - imperative "put on a jacket")
"If you have any questions, ask me." (Invitation/instruction - imperative "ask me")

Negative Forms in Zero Conditional:

You can use negative forms in either or both clauses of a zero conditional sentence using "don't" or "doesn't" with the Present Simple.

Examples of Negative Forms:

"If you don't water plants, they die." (Negative condition - lack of watering leads to death)
"If you don't hurry, you are late." (Negative condition - lack of hurry leads to lateness)
"If she doesn't drink coffee, she gets a headache." (Negative condition - absence of coffee leads to headache)
"If the battery is flat, the phone doesn't work." (Negative result - flat battery causes phone malfunction)
"When the sun doesn't shine, it is dark." (Negative condition with "when" - absence of sun causes darkness) - Using "when" with negative condition.

Key takeaway: The Zero Conditional (If + Present Simple, Present Simple) is used for general truths, scientific facts, habits, and situations where the result *always* happens when the condition is met. Remember to use Present Simple in both the 'if' clause and the main clause. You can use "when" instead of "if" in many cases. Next, we will explore Lesson 5.2: First Conditional!