Something True... You need to be persistent!!!

First Conditional : If clause	Main clause
If + Present tense	will / can / may / must + verb
If it rains today,	I'll stay at home

We use FIRST CONDITIONAL the  to talk about future events that are likely to happen.

• If we take John, he'll be really pleased.
• If you give me some money, I'll pay you back tomorrow.
• If they tell us they want it, we'll have to give it to them.
• If Mary comes, she'll want to drive.

The 'if' clause can be used with different present forms.

• If I go to New York again, I'll buy you a souvenir from the Empire State Building.
• If he's feeling better, he'll come.
• If she hasn't heard the bad news yet, I'll tell her.

The "future clause" can contain 'going to' or the future perfect as well as 'will'.

• If I see him, I'm going to tell him exactly how angry I am.
• If we don't get the contract, we'll have wasted a lot of time and money.

The "future clause" can also contain other modal verbs such as 'can' and 'must'.

• If you go to New York, you must have the cheesecake in Lindy's.
• If he comes, you can get a lift home with him.

FIRST CONDITIONAL EXERCISE

As soon as this class finishes, _______________________

As long as I have enough money, _____________________

Unless it rains, ____________________________________

Before I retire, ____________________________________

If I see my ex-girlfriend/ boyfriend again, ________________

When I next see my mother/ father, ____________________

If I lose my job, ____________________________________

As soon as my weekend starts, _______________________

After I finish the piece of work that I am working on at the moment, ______________________________________

If I have to become a full-time housewife/ househusband, ________________________

If I am distracted the next time I am trying to work/ study, _________________________

If I get promoted, _______________________________________

If my job doesn’t seem secure, ____________________________

If I am offered a great job somewhere remote, _________________

When I next have a day off, ________________________________

When I next have a holiday, ________________________________

Until my English is fluent, __________________________________

If I get fed up with my work/ studies, _____________________________

If I feel exhausted this evening, ________________________________

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ZERO CONDITIONAL STRUCTURE
If        +        Present Simple        +        Present Simple


Examples:

• If you heat ice, it melts.
  
• Ice melts if you heat it.
  
• If I go to bed late, I wake up late.
  
• You pay higher income taxes when you earn more money.
  

Negative

• If you do not exercise, you gain weight.
  
• If you exercise, you do not gain weight.
  
• If I don’t study, I don’t do well on tests.
  

Questions

• Does ice melt if you heat it?
  
• When do you wake up if you have to work?
  
• If you have to work, when do you wake up?
  

USES

1.  Rules

• If you take your cell phone into class, it must be turned off.
  
• If you drink alcohol, don’t drive.
  
• Do not use a calculator when you write the test.
  

2.  Scientific Facts and General Truths

• If you heat water to 100 degrees Celsius, it boils.
  
• If you drop something, it falls.
  
• When you combine oil and water, they do not mix.
  

3.  Cause and Effect

• If you push the button, the volume increases.
  
• If you close the door, it locks automatically.
  
• The computer turns off when you disconnect the battery.
  

4.  Routine

• I wear my boots when I work.
  
• She uses glasses when she drives.
  
• When I cook, I use olive oil.

Zero conditional Exercise

Complete the zero conditional sentences with the verb in brackets. Use contractions where possible.

it turns I go they don't have he's comes you aren't I don't know we don't do

1. If you press that button, the light(come) on.
2. It's easier to sleep if(you / not / be) stressed.
3. The teacher gets angry if(we / not / work) hard.
4. If(I / go) on a boat, I always feel sick.
5. His mother gets annoyed if(he / be) late.
6. If(I / not / know) a word, I look in my dictionary.
7. They play football if(they / not / have) any homework.
8. If you freeze water,(it / turn) to ice.