Zero & First Conditional

CONDITIONALS

ZERO & FIRST

What are conditionals?

Conditional sentences talk about a result that is dependant on a condition.

The sentences, therefore, have two parts, or clauses.

“if” determines the condition and the other is the result (which depends on the condition) in the other clause. 

Condition- Result

Since the tenses used are unique to each conditional type we can often rearrange the two parts of the sentence freely:

If ice-cream gets warm, it melts. 

Ice-cream melts if it gets warm.

Zero conditional (REAL)

• It is used when the result will always happen. (I'm talking in general, not about one particular situation.) The result of the 'if clause' is always the main clause.

Examples Zero Conditional

•  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)

Zero conditional structure

(PRESENT- PRESENT)

• [If + present] + [present]100% – will always happen.

• You get water if you mix hydrogen and oxygen.

• Snakes bite if they are scared.

• If babies are hungry, they cry

• >>> Identify the condition & the result.

• *be careful with the commas

Poll

If people eat too much, they get fat.

• TRUE (NOT everybody but IT GENERALLY HAPPENS)

• FALSE (people can eat EVERYTHING)

• I DON´T KNOW, Can people get fat for eating?

FIRST conditional (PROBABLY)

• It's used to talk about things which might happen in the future. Of course, we can't know what will happen in the future, but this describes possible things, which could easily come true. PROBABLY but not CERTAIN.

Examples FIRST Conditional

•  If you don't eat now, you'll be hungry later. If she doesn't call, I'll be annoyed. (It is possible, 50% you may not feel hungry).

• If she doesn't call, I'll be annoyed. (Probably he calls you are not sure 100%)

Zero conditional structure

(PRESENT- PRESENT)

• If + present tense, (comma) + future with “will” 

  [condition]                 [result]

  OR

  future with “will”  (no comma) + if + present tense

  [result]                     [condition]

  
  

• If I have enough money, I'll buy some new shoes.

• She'll be late if the train is delayed.

• >>> Identify the condition & the result.

• *be careful with the commas

Poll

If it rains, I won't go to the park.

• TRUE (I can get wet/sick)

• FALSE I want to get wet, its fun!)

• I DON´T KNOW, Can I go with rain?

Poll

How was today's lesson?

Zero conditional

• EASY

• VERY DIFFICULT

• I need to practise more

• I didn´t get ANYTHING (ZERO)

Poll

How was today's lesson?

First conditional

• EASY

• VERY DIFFICULT

• I need to practise more

• I didn´t get ANYTHING (ZERO)