You Need to Know This for Everyday English (Zero Conditional)

- Hello, this is Jack from tofluency.com

and today, I'm going to give you a quick lesson

on the zero conditional.

Now, the zero conditional

isn't taught as much

as the second or the first conditional

but it is probably used more in everyday English.

So let's have a look at an example.

When there's a storm, our football game gets canceled.

So both clauses use the present simple.

When there is, our football game gets.

So both clauses use the present simple.

And we use the zero conditional when we talk

about things in general.

What normally happens if this happens.

Or what normally happens when this happens.

Another example is I get really tired

when I eat a lot of pizza.

It's often used for facts that are always true.

For example, when you heat ice, it melts.

Let's now compare it to the first conditional.

So before I said,

when there is a storm, our game gets canceled.

This explains what normally happens

but listen to this.

If it storms, our game will get canceled.

Now, when you use the first conditional

in this sense, we are talking

about a very specific event in the future.

So our game on Sunday,

if it storms, our game on Sunday will get canceled.

So the zero conditional talks

about what happens generally

and the first conditional is used

for a specific event in the future.

Let's look at some more examples

of the zero conditional now.

I have to get the bus if I miss the train to work.

You can also say,

if I miss the train to work,

I have to get the bus.

We don't go outside much when it's too hot.

If I don't get enough sleep,

I'm really cranky in the morning.

So leave some more examples

of the zero conditional below to practice

and then go to the description

to find more lessons on conditionals.

I'll also leave some on your screen now.

And as always, if you like this lesson,

then click the like button

and then share it with your friends.

Thank you so much for watching

and I'll speak to you soon.

Bye bye.

(upbeat music)