JUNE

June 1st, 2015

ZERO CONDITIONAL

We use the so-called zero conditional when the result of the condition is always true, like a scientific fact.

Take some ice. Put it in a saucepan. Heat the saucepan. What happens? The ice melts (it becomes water). You would be surprised if it did not.

if	condition	result
	Present Simple	Present Simple
If	you heat ice,	it melts.

June 5th, 2015

 EXAMPLES ABOUT ZERO CONDITIONAL

if	condition	result
	Present Simple	Present Simple
If	I miss the 8 o'clock bus,	I am late for work.
If	I am late for work,	my boss gets angry.
If	people don't eat,	they get hungry.
If	you heat ice,	does it melt?

result	if	condition
Present Simple		Present Simple
I am late for work	if	I miss the 8 o'clock bus.
My boss gets angry	if	I am late for work.
People get hungry	if	they don't eat.
Does ice melt	if	you heat it?

June 8th, 2015

ANOTHER DEFINITION ABOUT ZERO CONDITIONAL

The Zero Conditional

We can make a zero conditional sentence with two present simple verbs (one in the 'if clause' and one in the 'main clause'):

• If + present simple, .... present simple.

This conditional is used when the result will always happen. So, if water reaches 100 degrees, it always boils. It's a fact. I'm talking in general, not about one particular situation. The result of the 'if clause' is always the main cluase.

The 'if' in this conditional can usually be replaced by 'when' without changing the meaning.

For example: If water reaches 100 degrees, it boils. (It is always true, there can't be a different result sometimes). If I eat peanuts, I am sick. (This is true only for me, maybe, not for everyone, but it's still true that I'm sick every time I eat peanuts).

June 12th, 2015

MORE EXAMPLES ABOUT ZERO CONDITIONAL

• If you heat ice, it melts.
• Ice melts if you heat it.
• When you heat ice, it melts.
• Ice melts when you heat it.
• If it rains, the grass gets wet.
• The grass gets wet if it rains.
• When it rains, the grass gets wet.
• The grass gets wet when it rains.
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• June 15th, 2015

STRUCTURE OF ZERO CONDITIONAL

Structure of zero conditional

Structure of zero conditional
positive	negative	question
If/when you heat water to 100 degrees, it boils.	If/when you don't heat water to 100 degrees, it doesn't boil.	What happens if/when you heat water to 100 degrees?

The zero conditional – common mistakes
Common mistakes	Correct version	Why?
If people eat too much, they will get fat. Water boils when it will reach 100°C.	If people eat too much, they get fat. Water boils when itreaches 100°C.	We use the present simple in both clauses of a zero conditional. We are saying that the condition is always true.
	If/when you don’t exercise, you get fat.	If and when have the same meaning here. We can also use whenever.

• June 19th, 2015

                  STRUCTURE OF ZERO CONDITIONAL