Zero Conditional
If + Present Simple, Present
Simple
We use the zero conditional to talk about things that always happen in certain conditions. The main action is an
automatic result of the if-clause. (We can sometimes use when instead of if.)
Task 1: Open the brackets. Remember about the punctuation.
1) If you _____________ (press) this button the machine ___________ (start).
2) If you _____________ (press) this button the machine ___________ (stop).
3) If I _____________ (not practice) the piano every evening I ___________ (forget) how to play it.
4) If we _____________ (take) our dog to the park she ___________ (run) away.
5) If you _____________ (heat) ice it ___________ (melt).
6) If/When I ___________ (miss) the 8 o’clock train I ________ (be) late for work.
7) If/When I ___________ (be) late for work my boss ________ (get) angry.
8) If/When people ___________ (not eat) they ________ (get) hungry.
9) When you ___________ (fly) budget airline you ___________ (have to) pay for your drinks and snacks.
10) When you ___________ (go) on holiday ___________(take) plenty of sun cream. It'll be very hot.
Task 2: Rewrite each pair of sentences to make one sentence with the zero conditional.
1) You heat water to 100 degrees. It boils.
2) You cross an international date line.
The time changes.
3) It rains. The grass gets wet.
4) Wood doesn't burn. There is no air.
5) Ice floats. You drop it in water.
6) There is no rain. The grass doesn’t grow.
7) Iron rusts. It gets wet.
8) People eat too much. They get fat.
9) Babies are hungry. They cry.
10) The river freezes. It’s very cold.
Task 3: Write the sentence with the zero conditional. You can use When or If
(I / wake up late / I / be late for (people / eat / too many sweets / they / get
school) fat)
(my husband / cook / he / burn the (I / feel good the next day / I / go to bed
food) early)
(you / mix water and electricity / you / (she / buy expensive clothes / she / go
get a shock) shopping)
(I / cycle to work / the weather / be (I / study hard / I / pass my exams)
fine)
ZERO CONDITIONAL WORKSHOPS
Name: __________________________________ Date: ____________ Code: _____________
Create phrases by using ZERO CONDITIONAL.
Example: (you/ not water / the flowers / die) = If you don’t water the flower, they die.
1. People / not exercise / they/ get fat. .............................................................................................
2. Pedro / get sick / the weather / change a lot ................................................................................
3. I / wake up late / I / be late for school). .........................................................................................
4. You / cannot win the lottery / not bet. .........................................................................................
5. Maria / get a backache / miss / Pilates class ...............................................................................
6. You / cannot / use a mobile / not / charge It ................................................................................
7. My sister / cook / she / burn the food). .........................................................................................
8. Karina / get mad / she / miss / one soap opera episode ..............................................................
9. You / smoke / your teeth / become yellow ....................................................................................
10. I / walk to work / the weather / be fine ........................................................................................
11. Marcy / travel every year / have Money ..................................................................................
12. Jordan / not wear sun lotion / get / a sunburn ..........................................................................
A. Match the left column with the right column
1. If children don’t eat well, ( ) I take his calls and write messages.
2. If water reaches 100°C, ( ) if I go to bed early.
3. Mark gets really angry, ( ) you turn off the Wi-Fi.
4. I always wake up early, ( ) they get sick
5. My brother cooks very well, ( ) I stop buying clothes.
6. If I need to save Money, ( ) if there’s an extended holiday.
7. If nobody gives me a ride, ( ) if someone interrupts him.
8. If Janice is out of the office, ( ) I take a taxi.
9. If you press the red button, ( ) if he wants to impress a girl.
10. The roads get really crowded, ( ) it boils.
