Zero Conditional: Structure and Examples

• The zero conditional expresses general truths or situations where one thing always causes another
• It describes predictable or habitual results
• It is often used to describe scientific facts, rules, and instructions

Structure and Form

• The zero conditional has two clauses: the 'if' clause (condition) and the main clause (result)
• Both clauses use the simple present tense
• The basic structure is: If + simple present, simple present
• Alternatively: Simple present if + simple present
• The order of the clauses does not change the meaning, but the comma is omitted when the 'if' clause comes second

Common Examples

• If you heat water to 100 degrees Celsius, it boils
• Plants die if they don't get enough water
• If employees work overtime, they receive extra pay
• If the company makes a profit, bonuses are distributed
• If you click on this link, it opens a new page
• If people double-click the file, it opens

Practice Exercises

• Complete the sentences:
  • If you mix red and blue, you ___ (get) purple
  • If the machine malfunctions, we ___ (contact) support
  • If prices increase, demand ___ (fall)
  • If you need help, you ___ (ask) your supervisor
  • If I oversleep, I ___ (be) late for work
• Answers:
  • get
  • contact
  • falls
  • ask
  • am

Usage in Business Contexts

• Describing standard procedures:
  • If there is a technical issue, the support team investigates it immediately
  • If an employee is sick, they must submit a medical certificate
• Explaining company policies:
  • If sales targets are met, the sales team gets a commission
  • If customers are not satisfied, they receive a refund
• Giving instructions or advice:
  • If you want to access the database, you need a password
  • If you have any questions, contact the HR department
• Discussing market trends:
  • If the economy improves, businesses invest more
  • If interest rates rise, the housing market cools down
• Describing routine operations:
  • If the stock level is low, the system automatically reorders
  • If a payment is received, an invoice is marked as paid

Time Expressions

• The zero conditional generally refers to timeless or habitual actions rather than specific times
• However, time-related words can be used to provide context
• Examples of time expressions:
  • "Whenever" can replace "if" to mean "every time"
    • Whenever the project is completed, the team celebrates
  • "When" can also replace "if" to indicate a general truth or predictable outcome
    • When the server goes down, the IT department gets notified
  • Adverbs of frequency such as "always," "usually," "often," "sometimes," and "never" can be used in either clause to indicate how often the condition or result occurs
    • If we have a meeting, we always discuss the budget
    • If sales are good, the manager is usually happy
    • If employees arrive late, they are often given a warning
• The zero conditional applies to situations that are generally true, so specific time references are less common than in other conditional types