Conditional Sentences

Conditional structures are used to talk about a condition and a possible result or consequence. The condition is something that must happen first in order for something else to happen as a result or consequence. Conditionals are complex sentences, which consist of an if-clause, followed by a main clause. Either clause can be positive or negative.

1) Zero conditional

if + present tense + present tense

If you heat water to 100 degrees, it boils.

present tense + if + present tense

Water boils if you heat it to 100 degrees.

• Zero conditional is used to talk about factual or true information. We use the same tense (present or past) in both the if-clause and the main clause (if has a similar meaning to every time):

✅If you cool water below zero degrees, it freezes.

✅We can also use when to introduce the condition:

When you visit a place of worship, you dress appropriately.

✅If it is no longer a fact we use the past tense:

When I was a child, if I was naughty, my parents sent me to bed early.