FIRST AND ZERO CONDITIONAL
ESTRUCTURE USES EXAMPLES Cyntia Colimba
FIRST CONDICIONAL The use of the conditional means that one action depends on another. Conditionals are used to talk about real or unreal situations. Conditional sentences generally carry the word "if". Note that there is no verb tense for the English conditional as it exists in Spanish. It's used to talk about things which might happen in the future. Of course, we can't know what will happen in the future, but this describes possible things, which could easily come true.
Structure First Condicional This is the first conditional sentence structure:
If + present simple, will + infinitive Yes, you use the present simple tense even though you are talking about a future event. That’s OK! You can use the the present simple after a conjunction to talk about a future event. (English Teacher , 2010) Examples :
If I study today, I'll go to the party tonight.
If I have enough money, I'll buy some new shoes.
She'll be late if the train is delayed.
The affirmative structure is:
If + present simple, will + verb (in infinitive). Examples :
If I go to bed late, I will get up very late.
If Bill studies , he will pass the exam
If I see her ,I’ll tell her
If the weather is fine tomorrow , we will go cycling
The negative structure is:
If + do/does not + present simple, will + verb (in infinitive). Examples :
If it doesn’t rain ,we will go to the beach
She’ll miss the bus if she doesn’t leave son.
If you don’t bring your unmbrella ,you’ll get met
If you don’t put on repellent , you’ll get bitten
The interrogative structure is: Question Word + will + verb (in infinitive) + if + present simple? Examples :
What will you do if you go to bed late ?
What will he do if she leaves him ?
What will happen if we fail ?
Which one will you choose if they les you ?
Note : Some modal verbs can be used instead of "will" to change the probability or detail an opinion. Examples
If it doesn´t rain , we may go to the beach . (Meaning: With the use of "may," the meaning of this phrase changes. Now, the speaker acknowledges that he can go to the beach, but is not so sure if he will go.)
If it doesn´t rain , we should go to the beach Meaning: In this case, the use of "should" expresses the speaker's opinion.)
If it doesn’t rain , we can go to the beach . (Meaning: “Can” means that it is possible to go to the beach, but does not indicate probability.)
The Differences Between the First, Second , Zero and Third Conditional First vs. Second Conditional: As you know, the first conditional is not the only conditional used in English. To make sure that you understand them, it is a good idea to establish the difference first/second/third conditional in English. (ABA English, 2014) As we have already explained, the first conditional describes things that could happen in the future. The second conditional in English describes things that we doubt will happen. Actually, it is quite subjective because it depends on how we see things. For example, a sentence in the first conditional would be: If Henry works harder, he will pay off his debts sooner. That is to say, it seems possible for him to work harder and that this will allow him to pay his debts more quickly.
On the other hand, the second conditional sentence would be: If Henry worked harder, he would pay off his debts sooner. This sentence implies that he will not work harder and, therefore, it is very unlikely that he will pay off his debts more quickly.
First vs. Zero Conditional: The first conditional describes a particular situation, whereas the zero conditional describes what happens in general. (Perfect English Grammar , s.f.)
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) First vs. Third Conditional: The third conditional is used to talk about a situation that did not happen in the past and imagines the result of that imaginary situation. Keeping the same example as above, an example of a third conditional would be: If Henry had worked harder, he would have paid off his debts sooner. By this, we mean that Henry did not work hard in the past and so he did not pay off his debts quickly.
First Conditional Exercise
1. If I
(go) out tonight, I
(go) to the cinema.
2. If you
(get) back late, I
3.
(not/see) each other tomorrow, we
If we
(be) angry.
4. If he
(come) , I
5. If we
(wait) here, we
6. If we
(go) on holiday this summer, we
7. If you
(be) late if we (not/go) if you
12. She
(take) a taxi if it
13. She
(cook) dinner if you
(cook) dinner at home. (not/pass) that exam. (have) time. (not/hurry) . (not/come) with me . (rain).
(buy) a new dress if I
15. She
(stay) in London if she
16. They 17. I
(go) to Spain.
(go) on holiday if they
10. We
14. I
(be) late
(not/get) a better job if he
9. They
11. I
(be) surprised.
(not/want) to go out, I
8. He
(go) to the supermarket. (have) enough money. (get) a job.
(go) to the party if they (come) early, if you
18. If we 19. If I 20. If the weather
(see) each other next week.
(eat) all this cake, we (not/go) to bed early, I (not/improve) , we
(be) invited. (want). (feel) sick. (be) tired tomorrow. (not/have) a picnic.
21. If a deer ________ into your garden, it ________ all your plants a) will get / eats b) gets / will eat
22. If you ________ an apple every day, you'll be very healthy. a) eat b) will eat
23. You'll pay higher insurance if you ________ a sports car. a) Buy b) will buy
24. You won't pass the course if you ________. a) won't study b) don't study
25. If I ________ some eggs, how many ________ a)
will cook / do you eat
b) cook / will you eat
26. You ________ better if you turn on the lamp. a) are able to see b) will be able to see
ZERO CONDITIONAL 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". Many of the conditional constructions of English are used in sentences that include verbs in the past tense. This usage is called "the unreal past" because we use past tense but we are not referring to something that actually happened. There are five main ways to build conditional sentences in English. In all cases, they consist of a statement or clause with "if" and a main statement. In many negative conditional sentences there is an equivalent alternative construction that uses "unless" instead of "if". The "zero conditional" is used when the time we are referring to is now or always and the situation is real and possible. This type of conditional is usually used to talk about general facts. The verb tense of both propositions is the "simple present". In type 0 conditional sentences, the term "if" can usually be replaced by "when" without changing the meaning. (EF, s.f.)
Structure Zero Conditional We can make a zero conditional sentence with two present simple verbs (one in the 'if clause' and one in the 'main clause'):
If + present simple, .... present simple.
Examples :
If you don't put sun cream on, you get burnt.
If you get a virus, call the IT specialist.
This conditional is used when the result will always happen. So, if water reaches 100 degrees, it always boils. It's a fact. I'm talking in general, not about one particular situation. The result of the 'if clause' is always the main clause. (Brainly, s.f.) The 'if' in this conditional can usually be replaced by 'when' without changing the meaning. Examples :
If I'm late for work, my boss gets angry.
If you heat ice, it melts
If you touch fire, you burn yourself.
If you study, you pass the test.
The affirmative structure is: If + present simple (,) present simple Examples :
If she doesn't put sun cream on, you get burnt.
If you come to help me, I finish quick.
I go to the party if I do my homework.
I buy you the phone if you past the test.
You get burnt If you don't put sun cream .
The negative structure is: If + present simple + negacion (,) present simple Examples :
If you heat water to 10 degrees, it doesn't boil.
If public transport doesn't work, people keep using their cars.
If you cross the line, you don't go back.
If children don't study, their parents don't buy toys.
If you don't mix the correct colors, you don't get purple.
For the interrogative form, a structure does not exist, it can only be combined, for example:
If you mix white and black paint, What do you get?
How is zero conditional used? Zero conditional is used to express facts that are always true, such as scientific facts, scientific laws, general truths, etc. Example : 
You get orange if you mix red and yellow.
If you mix red and yellow, the result will always be the same. Therefore, this fact is a general truth. 
If I eat peanuts, I get ill.
Although getting sick after eating peanuts is not a universal truth, for a certain group of people (allergic) it is true that whenever they eat it it will cause the same result.
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. (LEWOLANG, s.f.) Examples : 
If you feel sick, go to the doctor.

Don't open the door if someone knocks.
Only in this conditional can we substitute if for when without altering the meaning of the phrase. Example : If you heat ice, it melts. When you heat ice, it melts.
REMEMBER
Zero conditional is a type of conditional that is used to express a cause and effect relationship in facts that are always true ( scientific facts , particular facts , etc.) or to give instructions
The order of the two sentences that makeup 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 express the result , it is not
Zero Conditional Exercises
1. If I
(wake up) late, I
2. If my husband
3. If Julie
be) late for work.
(cook) , he
(burn) the food.
(not/wear) a hat, she
(get) sunstroke.
4. If children
(not/eat) well, they
(not/be) healthy.
5. If children
(not/eat) well, they
(not/be) healthy.
6. If people
(eat) too many sweets, they
7. If you
(smoke) , you
8. If children
(heat) ice, it
10. If I
11. I
14. My daughter
(not/get) overweight.
(melt).
(speak) to John, he
(get) annoyed.
(feel) good the next day if I
12. Lots of people
13. She
(get) yellow fingers.
(play) outside, they
9. If you
(get) fat.
(come) if Jenny
(buy) expensive clothes if she
(pass) her exams if she
(go) to bed early.
(have) a party.
(go) shopping.
(work) hard.
SOLUTIONARY First Condicional Exercise 1. go ; ‘ll go 2. get ; ‘ll be 3. don’t see ; ‘ll see 4. comes ; ‘ll be 5. go ; ‘ll go 6. wait ; ‘ll be 7. don’t want : ‘ll cook 8. won’t get ; doesn’t pass 9. ‘ll go ; have 10. ‘ll be ; don’t hurry 11. won´t go ; don’t come 12. ‘ll take ; rains 13. ‘ll cook ; go 14. ‘ll buy ; have 15. ‘ll stay ; gets 16. ‘ll go ; are 17. ‘ll come ;want 18. eat ; ‘ll feel 19. don’t go ; ‘ll be 20. doesn’t improve ;won’t have 21. gets ; will eat 22. eat 23. buy 24. don’t study 25. cook ; will you eat 26. will be able to see
Zero Condicional Exercise 1. wake up ; ‘m 2. cooks ; burns 3. doesn’t wear : gets 4. don’t eat ; aren’t
5. don’t eat ; aren’t 6. eat ; get 7. smoke ; get 8. play ; don’t get 9. heat ; melts 10. speak ; gets 11. feel ; go 12. come ; has 13. buys ; goes 14. passes ; works
BibliografĂa ABA English. (2014). Obtenido de https://blog.abaenglish.com/intermediate-grammar-firstconditional/#:~:text=The%20first%20conditional%20in%20English%20is%20formed%20w ith%20the%20present,clause%20uses%20the%20future%20simple.&text=If%20%2B%20p resent%20simple%2C%20will%20%2B,%2B%20verb%20 Brainly. (s.f.). Obtenido de https://brainly.lat/tarea/1243213 EF. (s.f.). Obtenido de https://www.ef.com.ec/recursos-aprender-ingles/gramaticainglesa/condicional-tipo-cero/ English Teacher . (Octubre de 2010). Obtenido de http://www.englishteachermelanie.com/grammar-the-1st-first-conditional/ LEWOLANG. (s.f.). Obtenido de https://www.lewolang.com/gramatica-inglesa/22/zero-conditional Perfect English Grammar . (s.f.). Obtenido de https://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/firstconditional.html