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Zero and First Conditional
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Zero conditional: things that are generally true
We often associate ‘if…' sentences with unreal situations (2nd) or future possibilities (1st) but there is a conditional, or ‘if' sentence, that gives the speaker the chance to talk about things that are very real in the present.
The zero conditional sentences are used to make a statement that is generally true or we can also use the zero conditional to talk about situations that are always true from the speaker's point of view. Like all conditional sentences come in 2 parts or clauses, For example:
If + subject + present simple (negative), subject + present simple (negative)
| ‘If/when' clause | Main clause |
| If people laugh about something, | they feel better |
| If he goes to bed late, | he doesn't enjoy the next day |
Using ‘when' to add certainty
Another variation of the zero conditional includes ‘when'. By using ‘when' in the zero conditional construction, we make the sentence stronger in terms of the reality of the situation. In both sentences below the speaker listens to music when he or she goes home. In sentence a) the possibility of actually going home seems less real than in sentence b) because we have used ‘when'.
‘If/when' clause |
Main clause |
a) If I go home, |
I listen to music |
b) When I go home, |
I listen to music |
First conditional: possibilities in the future
The 1st conditional is used to describe a future possibility based on changing events in the present. As the sentences describe a future possibility, ‘will' is commonly used but ‘might' and ‘could' can also be used in the second clause. ‘When' is used with the first conditional in a very similar way to the zero conditional mentioned earlier. By using ‘when' in the first conditional we describe a situation that is more possible.
If/when + subject + present , will (not)/might (not)/could (not)+ infinitive
‘If/when' clause |
Main clause |
Explanation |
If he shouts, |
I will get angry |
A man is not shouting now but if the situation changes, I will get angry in the future as a result |
If I don't get paid, |
I might not go out |
I haven't been paid yet but when I have the money, there is a 50/50 chance of me going out later |
If the weather is sunny, |
we could go to the beach |
If there is sunshine, we have the possibility of going to the beach later |
When I get to the cafe, |
I will drink a coffee |
The speaker is very certain about their intentions when they get to the cafe. They are definitely going to drink coffee |
Warning!
It's important to remember NOT to put the modal verb (‘will', ‘could' or ‘might') in the conditional or ‘if/when' clause when using conditional sentences:
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If I have time, I will cook something tasty (NOT If I will have time I will cook something tasty)
Flexibility in conditional sentences
Conditional sentences are flexible, you can swap the ‘if/when clause' with the second clause and the meaning does not change and you can do this with all conditional sentences. Note that the comma (,) is lost when we swap the clauses:
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If people laugh about something, they feel better = people feel better if they laugh about something
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If he shouts, I will get angry = I will get angry if he shouts
Conditional sentences - question forms
It is unusual to use the zero conditional in questions but it is possible. Also, the first conditional is used to ask about the future possibility of something happening. For example:
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If you hear the alarm, do you wake up?
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If you have time, will you visit her?
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