Practical English grammar guide

Zero conditional in English: structure, examples and exercises

The zero conditional, also called conditional type 0, expresses facts, rules, habits and results that repeat whenever a condition is true.

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Quick answer

Use the zero conditional when the result is general, logical or habitual. It is not a specific future prediction; it is something that happens as a rule.

If / When + present simple
=
present simple
If you heat ice, it melts.If you heat ice, it melts.
structureexamplesexerciseszero vs first conditional
What it isStructureExamplesZero vs firstExercisesFAQ

What is the zero conditional?

The zero conditional is a grammar structure that links a condition to a result considered generally true. That is why it appears in science, rules, instructions, habits, manuals and everyday explanations.

The mental idea is simple: if A happens, B happens. The result is stable, so English learners usually study it with present simple in both parts.

Facts

General truths

If water reaches 100 degrees, it boils. The result does not depend on a personal decision.

Habits

Real routines

If I drink coffee at night, I sleep badly. It describes something repeated in real life.

Rules

Instructions

If the light turns red, stop. It can give orders, warnings or clear procedures.

Zero conditional structure

The zero conditional structure has two clauses: the condition and the result. The condition usually starts with if or when; the result explains what happens.

Type Formula Example
Affirmative If + subject + present simple, subject + present simple If it rains, the ground gets wet.
Negative If + subject + do/does not + verb, subject + do/does not + verb If plants do not get water, they do not grow.
Question Wh- / Do / Does + subject + verb + if + present simple? What happens if you heat ice?
With when When + present simple, present simple When babies are hungry, they cry.

Comma rule: if the sentence begins with the condition, we normally use a comma before the result.

If you mix red and blue, you get purple.You get purple if you mix red and blue.

If or when in the zero conditional: which one should you choose?

In the zero conditional, if and when can be very close in meaning. Use if to emphasize the condition and when when the result feels like a routine.

When do we use the zero conditional?

Zero conditional

Natural laws and science

It explains physical, biological or mathematical results.

If metal gets hot, it expands.
Zero conditional

Rules and instructions

It works for manuals, rules and procedures.

If the alarm rings, leave the building.
Zero conditional

Personal habits

It describes routines that repeat in your life.

If I study in the morning, I remember more.
Zero conditional

Logical consequences

It shows a clear cause-and-effect relationship.

If you press this button, the screen turns on.
Zero conditional

Practical advice

It makes a recommendation sound direct.

If you feel tired, take a break.
Zero conditional

Definitions

It helps explain vocabulary and processes.

If a word ends in -ed, it is often a past form.

Zero conditional examples

Memorising the formula helps, but seeing many zero conditional examples in context is what makes the structure automatic.

General facts

If you heat water, it boils.Water boils when you heat it.
If the sun goes down, it gets dark.It gets dark when the sun goes down.

Routines

If I sleep badly, I drink more coffee.When I hear a new word, I write it down.
If we practise every day, we improve faster.If my phone battery is low, I charge it.

Negative and questions

If he does not revise, he does not pass.Does ice melt if you heat it?
What happens if you click this icon?If the file is too large, compress it.

Phrase bank with zero conditional sentences

A good bank of zero conditional sentences prevents you from learning the form by memory without knowing how to use it.

Situation Useful sentences What you learn
Home and technology If the router stops working, the internet connection drops. The screen locks if you do not touch it. Daily processes and automatic results.
Health and body If you do not sleep enough, your concentration falls. If you drink too little water, you get thirsty. Habits and general consequences.
English study If you repeat a phrase aloud, you remember it better. When you practise with examples, the rule becomes natural. Learning advice expressed as rules.
Work If people receive clear instructions, they make fewer mistakes. When a deadline is close, the team works faster. Professional routines and cause-effect relations.

Conditional type 0, zero conditional formula and related searches

You will see different labels online: conditional type 0, type zero conditional, 0 conditional structure and zero conditional formula. They all refer to the same base: present simple in the condition and present simple in the result.

Zero conditional

Use: facts, rules, routines or general results.

If it rains, the grass gets wet.

First conditional

Use: a possible future consequence.

If it rains tomorrow, we will cancel the picnic.

How to build a zero conditional sentence step by step

Use the zero conditional when the result is general, logical or habitual. It is not a specific future prediction; it is something that happens as a rule.

1Choose a stable relationLook for something that happens always, normally or as a rule.
2Turn the first part into a conditionStart with If you sleep badly, When you heat ice or If you practise every day.
3Write the result in present simpleAdd the general effect: you feel tired, it melts, you improve faster.
4Check the meaningIf the sentence describes a general rule, the zero conditional is probably right.

Common zero conditional mistakes

1

Using will in the result

For general truths, use present simple: If water freezes, it expands.

2

Confusing zero and first conditional

Use first conditional for a concrete future possibility.

3

Forgetting do/does in negatives

Use do not or does not: If she does not practise, she does not improve.

4

Translating mechanically

Think first about the relation between condition and result.

Zero conditional exercises

Complete the sentences and then check the answers. The goal is to recognise present simple in both clauses.

Exercise 1

  1. If John _____ (take) his car, he _____ (get) there early.
  2. If fall _____ (start), trees _____ (lose) their leaves.
  3. It _____ (be) faster if you _____ (use) the metro.
  4. If she _____ (not know) the word, she _____ (write) it down.

Answers: takes / gets; starts / lose; is / use; does not know / writes.

Exercise 2

  1. What does he _____ (like) to play if he _____ (have) free time?
  2. If you _____ (mix) green and red, what color do you _____ (get)?
  3. If you _____ (feel) sleepy, _____ (drive, not).
  4. If I _____ (water, not) the plants, they _____ (die).

Answers: like / has; mix / get; feel / do not drive; do not water / die.

Zero conditional FAQ

What is the zero conditional?

It is an English structure used for facts, rules, habits or results that are generally true when a condition is met.

What is the zero conditional structure?

The most common formula is if or when + present simple, followed by present simple.

When do we use if and when?

Use if to stress the condition. Use when when the result feels like a routine or certainty.

What is the difference between zero and first conditional?

Zero conditional describes general truths. First conditional describes a possible future result.

How do you form the negative?

Use do not or does not in the present simple: If plants do not get water, they do not grow.

How do you ask questions?

You can ask: What happens if you heat ice? or Does ice melt if you heat it?

Master the zero conditional with a clear routine

Keep the formula simple, read many examples, compare it with the first conditional and practise until the structure feels natural.

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