zeroconditional

As in all conditional sentences, the order of the clauses is not fixed. You may have to rearrange the pronouns and adjust punctuation when you change the order of the clauses, but the meaning is identical. In zero conditional sentences, you can replace "if" with "when", because both express general truths. The meaning will be unchanged.

When we are thinking about facts which are generally true, we use:

If + Present Simple, Present Simple

• If you put water in the freezer, it becomes ice.
• If you stand in the rain, you get wet.
• If you heat ice, it melts.

You can see in the examples about the the condition always has the same result.

Notice how we use a comma after the first present simple tense clause.

We can also reverse the order and use:

Present Simple + If + Present Simple

• You get wet if you stand in the rain.
• Ice melts if you heat it.
• I can't sleep if I drink coffee at night.
• Plants die if you don't water them.

Notice how the comma is not necessary with this word order.

The Zero Conditional Structure

Take a look at this condition:

If I get lost,

This is not a complete sentence. There is some information missing. What happens if you get lost? What do you do? We need another clause to explain what happens.

Take a look at this result:

I ask for directions.

This is a complete sentence, but there is also some information missing. When do you ask for directions? Under what conditions do you ask for directions?

If I get lost, I ask for directions.

This is the easiest conditional sentence remember, because you use the present simple tense in both clauses of the sentence:

If + present simple, present simple

Now that you understand how to form the zero conditional, let’s focus on when to use it.

1. Habits

In English, use the present simple tense to talk about habits and daily routines:

I walk the dog every day.
I call my mother once a week.
I babysit my grandchildren every week.

 
You can also use the zero conditional sentence structure to talk about your habits, or things that you always do in certain situations or conditions.

Finish these sentences with what you do in these situations:

If I get sick, I …
If I miss the train, I …
If I don’t sleep well, I …
If I drink, I …
If it’s hot, I …
If it snows, I …

Remember: You are thinking about your habits, not a specific situation that is happening today or that will possibly happen tomorrow.

 
Now, take a look at these sentences. Do you do these things? When do you do these things?

I stay home from work.
I drive to work.
I am cranky in the morning.
I never drive.
I go to the beach.
I shovel the driveway.

 
These things are connected. Let’s put them together in the zero conditional sentence structure.

If this event or condition happens, this is what I do.

If I get sick, I stay home from work.
If I miss the train, I drive to work.
If I don’t sleep well, I am cranky in the morning.
If I drink, I never drive.
If it’s hot, I go to the beach.
If it snows, I shovel the driveway.

EXAMPLES

• 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.

The zero conditional is also often used to give instructions, using the imperative in the main clause.

EXAMPLES

• If Bill phones, tell him to meet me at the cinema.
• Ask Pete if you're not sure what to do.
• If you want to come, call me before 5:00.
• Meet me here if we get separated.

Complete the zero conditional sentences with the verb in brackets. Use contractions where possible.

it turns I go they don't have he's comes you aren't I don't know we don't do

1. If you press that button, the light(come) on.
2. It's easier to sleep if(you / not / be) stressed.
3. The teacher gets angry if(we / not / work) hard.
4. If(I / go) on a boat, I always feel sick.
5. His mother gets annoyed if(he / be) late.
6. If(I / not / know) a word, I look in my dictionary.
7. They play football if(they / not / have) any homework.
8. If you freeze water,(it / turn) to ice.

could

English exercise "Could/Couldn't"

1. When I was young, I  could couldn't I don't know play the guitar: it was too difficult for me!

2. Her grandmother was bilingual: she  could couldn't I don't know speak both English and Spanish.

3. Yesterday, Peter  could couldn't I don't know do that exercise alone. So, he called me for help.

4. In 1950, people  could couldn't I don't know use mobile phones.

5. When his mother was young, she  could couldn't I don't know skate but she can't do it any longer.

6. We  could couldn't I don't know open the door: it was locked from the inside!

7. In 1900, people  could couldn't I don't know watch TV.

8. Mary's grandfather  could couldn't I don't know play chess and he was the best!

9. In 1945, people  could couldn't I don't know play video games.

10. But they  could couldn't I don't know play chess!

11. Peter  could couldn't I don't know play tennis last Monday: he had broken his arm!

12. When Ann was a teenager, she  could couldn't I don't know watch a horror film: it was too frightening for her!

13. Last Sunday, we  could couldn't I don't know take any photos in the museum: it was forbidden.

14. Mozart  could couldn't I don't know play the piano when he was 5.

Choose the correct answer.

1.   WasWereyou at home last night?
2. We   didn't cancouldn'tsend you an email because our computer was broken.
3. The concert   iswasvery good. The singers were fantastic.
4. I   couldn'tcouldgo to the beach on Sunday because I was at work.
5. They   weren'tcouldn'ton holiday last week.
6. Mike   waswereill last week, but he's okay now.
7.   CanCouldyour brothers skateboard when they were six?
8. He   could to swimcould swimwhen he was four.

Use the correct form of "can" to complete each of these sentences. Use contractions where possible.

1. I  sleep last night. It was so hot!

2. When I was five or six, I  do a handstand, but I now.

3. My late grandfather  speak French and my father say a few words of Spanish. I  speak anything but English.

4. We're having a dinner party next Saturday, but Roger  come.

5. When I met Darren last year, he  swim. He was terrified of the water. Now he  swim like a fish!

6. I  finish my lunch today. I just wasn't hungry at all.

7. There are so many different ice creams to choose from. I  decide. You choose for me.

8. I  find Ben and then I found him in the garden. Now I find him again. He keeps disappearing!

usedtowoud

1. I didn’t  use toused tolive in this city.
2. We  wouldn’tdidn’t used tooften go on holiday.
3. When I was a child, we  used towouldhave a dog.
4. She  used to workworkedas a teacher for many years.
5. As a student, he never  used towouldhave any money.
6. Did you  use toused tolike playing football at school?
7. There never  use to beused to bea coffee shop here.
8. My dad  woulduse toalways read to me before bed.

1. Do you remember how your Uncle David  sit in that chair and smoke those disgusting cigars.

2. Your mother  have a Yorkshire Terrier when she was a young girl, didn't she?

3. For years, they  go on holiday to the Rockies, but then it became very fashionable and, hence, expensive.

4. Years ago, I  write a diary every day but then I got bored with doing it and I stopped. Maybe it was my life that was boring!

5. At the start of their marriage, they  be very happy - but then it all went wrong!

6. You  spell so well. Whatever happened?

7. When I was five, I  be able to do incredible gymnastics. Now I can't even touch my toes.

8. Before getting my driving licence, I  ride a bicycle everywhere.