"Zero" Conditional

IT IS USED

for instructions

If ¹ the light comes on, the battery is OK.

for general truths

If I have a big breakfast, it makes me sleepy.

_____

¹ If has the same meaning as when here.

IF-CLAUSE		MAIN CLAUSE
If +	Present Simple Present Continuous	Present Simple Present Continuous
If the temperature falls below zero,		water freezes.
If the baby is crying,		it is probably hungry.
If an advertisement does not tell the truth,		the advertiser is committing an offence.
MAIN CLAUSE		IF-CLAUSE
Present Simple Present Continuous		If +	Present Simple Present Continuous
The machine stops He never uses his car		if something goes wrong. if it isn't working properly.

Exercise 5. Join each idea in A with the most suitable idea from B.

Example: If a balloon is filled with gas, it rises.

A	B
l)If a balloon is filled with gas, 2) If the microphone isn't working, 3) The machine doesn't work 4) If I get a headache, 5) I feel terrible 6) You put on weight	a) I usually take a pain killer. b) if I don't get 8 hours' sleep at night. c) you can't hear what he's saying. d) it rises. e) if you don't enough exercise. f) if it doesn't have enough oil.

First/Second/Third/Zero Conditionals

First Conditional	Second Conditional	Third Conditional	Zero Conditional
Possible or probable future situation	Impossible or improbable present or future situation	Unreal or untrue past situations	General truth
If I see Maria, I'll give her your message.	If saw Maria, I would give her your message.	If I had seen Maria, I would have given her your message.	If I see Maria, I always smile at her.

Exercise 6. Each of these sentences is followed by a question to which the answer is YES or NO. Decide which is correct and write YES or NO.

Example: If he were here, he would amuse us. Is he here? — NO.

1. If I had $10, I would lend you some money. Have I got $10?

2. If I have to, I'll complain to the manager. Am I going to complain to the manager?

3. I would have stayed longer if she had wanted me to. Did I stay longer?

4. If only he practised regularly, he would be a good pianist. Does he practise regularly?

5. He would never have passed the exam if he hadn't worked so hard. Did he pass it?

6. If Sally finds out what's happening, she'll be very angry. Will she be angry?

7. If he were coming, he would ring. Is he coming?

Exercise 7. Complete the sentences using the correct form of the verbs in brackets.

Example: Don't worry, if you miss (miss) the last bus, I'll give you a lift home.

You wouldn't have had the accident if you had been (be) more careful.

1. If you ___ (go) out without a coat, you'll catch a cold.

2. It's a pity Julie wasn't at the party. She ___ (love) it.

3. If he makes a promise, he ___ (always/keep) it.

4. You needn't come to the party if you ___ (not/want) to.

5. They'll understand it all right if you ___ (explain) it to them.

6. We ___ (miss) the train if we had been two minutes later.

7. The children always get frightened if they ___ (watch) horror films.

Exercise 8. Read each of the following situations, and then write a conditional sentence with a similar meaning.

Example: She might pass her driving exam. She'll be very happy.

She'll be very happy if she passes her driving exam.

Bobby's always hungry. He doesn't eat much.

He wouldn't be hungry if he ate more.

He didn't get the job because he didn't have good qualifications.

He would have got the job if he had had good qualifications.

1. They were sick because they ate that bad fish.

2. He might be late for work tomorrow. His boss will be angry then.

3. Deborah works overtime every evening because she has a lot to do.

4. Jack coughs a lot. He smokes more than 20 cigarettes a day.

5. We didn't see that film because we didn't have the time.

6. He doesn't study very hard so he makes a lot of mistakes.

7. It might be fine this afternoon. We'll go for a walk then.