First Conditional VS Zero Conditional

Conditionals By: Diana Lรณpez

INDEX

 Conditionals  First conditional  Zero conditional  First conditional VS Zero conditional  Remember  Bibliography

Conditionals Conditionals are used to speculate about what might happen, what might have happened, and what we would like to see happen. In English, most sentences using conditional verb tense contain the term "if" .

Conditional Use sentence type

Verb tense of the proposition "if"

Verb tense of the main proposition

Type 0

General facts

Simple present

Simple present

Type 1

A possible condition and its probable result

Simple present

Simple future

Type 2

A Simple past hypothetical condition and its probable outcome

Present conditional or Present continuous conditional

Type 3

An unreal Past condition perfect from the past and its probable

Perfect conditional

result in the past Mixed

An unreal Past condition perfect from the past and its probable result in the present

Present conditional

This type of conditional is used in situations where if a condition is met, a certain result is likely to occur.

STRUCTURE If + subject + present simple , subject + future simple

EXAMPLES…

 If you are late again, I will get angry with you.  If I go on vacation this year, I will definitely go to Greece.  I will cook your favourite pasta if you come on Sunday.  If I don’t study hard, I won’t pass the exam.  Peter will come back to Spain if he doesn’t find a job abroad.

For the future phrase we mostly use the simple future with will , but you can also use the simple future with going to or a modal verb: can, might, should, or must .  If the weather is good on Sunday , we will go on a picnic.  If I don't have to go to work tomorrow, I am going to visit my parents.  If the meeting ends early, we can go have a drink.  If I have time this afternoon, I might wash the car.  If they invite you , you should go.  If you have any problems, you must call me.

The order of the two sentences that make up the conditional structure can be changed. If we start with the (If) condition we will separate them with a comma. If we start with the phrase that expresses the result, it is not necessary to put the comma .

If the plane is delayed, she will be late.

She will be late if the plane is delayed.

How is the first

conditional used?

The first conditional is used to express future plans, threats, warnings, promises or to convince someone about something.

If the weather is fine tomorrow, we will go cycling.

This type of conditional is used in situations where if a condition is met, the same result is always given.

STRUCTURE If + subject + present simple , subject + present simple

EXAMPLES…

 If people eat too much, they get fat.  If you touch a fire, you get burned.  People die if they don't eat.  You get water if you mix hydrogen and oxygen.  Snakes bite if they are scared  If babies are hungry, they cry.

The order of the two sentences that make up the conditional structure can be changed. If we start with the (If) condition , we will separate them with a comma. If we start with the phrase that expresses the result, it is not necessary to put the comma .

If water reaches 100ยบC , it boils .

Water boils if it reaches 100ยบC.

Only in this conditional can we substitute if for when without altering the meaning of the phrase.

If you heat ice, it melts.

When you heat ice, it melts.

How is zero

conditional used?

The conditional zero is used to express facts that are always true as, for example, scientific facts, scientific laws, general truths, etc.

If I eat peanuts, I get ill.

In addition to true facts, the zero conditional can also be used to give instructions . In this case we will use an imperative to express the instruction or warning.

Don't open the door if someone knocks .

The first conditional describes a particular situation, whereas the zero conditional describes what happens in general.

For example (zero conditional): if you sit in the sun, you get burned (here I'm talking about every time a person sits in the sun - the burning is a natural consequence of the sitting).

But (first conditional): if you sit in the sun, you'll get burned (here I'm talking about what will happen today, another day might be different).

REMEMBER‌ The first conditional is a type of conditional that is used to express a condition-result relationship in particular situations that occur in the future (future plans, threats, warnings, promises, convince someone, etc.).

The conditional zero is a type of conditional that is used to express a relationship of cause and effect facts are always true (scientific facts, particular facts, etc.) or to give instructions.

BIBLIOGRAPHY…  https://www.lewolang.com/gramaticainglesa/23/first-conditional  https://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/firstconditional.html  https://whatsup.es/blog/las-claves-para-usarcorrectamente-el-first-conditional  https://www.lewolang.com/gramaticainglesa/22/zero-conditional  https://www.ef.com.ec/recursos-aprenderingles/gramatica-inglesa/condicional-tipo-cero/  https://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/zeroconditional.html  https://www.ef.com.ec/recursos-aprenderingles/gramatica-inglesa/condicionales/