Practice
English practice: zero and first conditionals
Sign in to saveFirst, decide whether the result is usual or future. Then choose the verb forms that match that meaning.
Choose the zero conditional for facts and regular results, and the first conditional for a likely future result.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
If it rains, we will stay inside. /ɪf ɪt reɪnz wiː wɪl steɪ ɪnˈsaɪd/
The short answer
Use the zero conditional for a fact or a result that happens whenever the condition is true: if plus present simple, then present simple. Use the first conditional for a possible future result: if plus present simple, then will plus a base verb.
If the temperature drops below zero, water freezes.
Why it works: This is a general fact, so both clauses use the present simple.
5 more examples
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If you heat ice, it melts.
Heating ice has the same result each time, so this is a zero conditional.
Not this:If the ice melts in the cooler, we
will buyanother bag. What changes: This sentence looks ahead to one possible result, so it uses the first conditional. -
If people do not sleep enough, they feel tired.
The sentence describes a common result, not one event on a future date.
Not this:If I do not sleep enough tonight, I
will feeltired tomorrow. What changes: Tonight and tomorrow make this a possible future situation. -
Plants grow better if they get enough light.
This is a general relationship between light and plant growth.
Not this:The plants
will growbetter if we move them near the window. What changes: We are considering a future action and its likely result. -
If the bus is late, my brother walks to work.
The sentence describes his usual plan when this happens.
Not this:If the bus is late tomorrow, my brother
will walkto work. What changes: Tomorrow points to one future occasion, so the result uses will. -
If a password is wrong, the website shows an error message.
A wrong password regularly produces this result.
Not this:If my password is wrong again, I
will resetit. What changes: Again refers to a possible later problem and the response to it.
Read the full guide
Look at the meaning before you look at the verb. Ask whether the sentence describes a repeated fact or a future possibility. A repeated fact needs the zero conditional. A future possibility needs the first conditional.
Choose the meaning first
Both patterns use if, so do not choose from the first word alone. Ask a meaning question: does this result happen whenever the condition is true, or are you talking about one possible future situation?
If you press this button, the screen turns on.
This explains how the button normally works. It is a zero conditional.
If you press this button tomorrow, the screen will turn on.
Tomorrow makes the action a future possibility. This is a first conditional.
Use zero for usual results
Use the zero conditional for facts, rules, instructions that apply each time, and results that usually happen. Use present simple in the if clause and present simple in the result clause. The sentence can describe a scientific fact or an ordinary routine.
If customers pay by card, the machine prints a receipt.
Pay and prints are present-simple forms because this describes the normal process.
My phone saves the photo if I tap the blue icon.
The result is the usual effect of tapping that icon.
Use first for future results
Use the first conditional when the condition is possible and the result is expected or likely in the future. Use present simple after if. Put will plus the base verb in the result clause. The condition may not happen, but it is a real possibility.
If the meeting ends early, we will have coffee nearby.
Ends is present simple after if. Will have shows the possible later result.
I will send you the notes if you miss the class.
The result clause comes first here, but the pattern stays the same.
Keep will out of if
In a standard first conditional, do not put will directly after if. The if clause uses present simple even when the meaning is future. Put will in the other clause. This keeps the condition and its result clear.
If the train arrives on time, I will catch the connection.
Arrives follows if, so it is present simple. Will catch is the future result.
Do not write If the train will arrive on time, I will catch the connection. In this first conditional, use arrives after if.
Change the clause order
You can place the condition first or second. The meaning and verb forms do not change. When the if clause comes first, write a comma after it. When the result clause comes first, English usually does not need a comma before the final if clause.
If it rains this afternoon, we will stay inside.
The condition comes first, so use a comma before the result clause.
We will stay inside if it rains this afternoon.
The result comes first. The same first-conditional meaning remains.
Before you go
Remember this
Use present simple in both clauses for a fact, rule, or usual result. For a likely future result, use present simple after if and will plus a base verb in the other clause. Check the time meaning before you choose the pattern.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "English practice: zero and first conditionals"
What is the zero conditional used for?
Use the zero conditional for facts, rules, and results that usually happen. If you heat ice, it melts describes the usual result of heating ice. Both clauses normally use the present simple.
If you heat ice, it melts.
What is the first conditional used for?
Use the first conditional for a real future possibility and its likely result. If I do not sleep enough tonight, I will feel tired tomorrow refers to one possible future situation.
If the ice melts in the cooler, we will buy another bag.
Why does the if clause use present simple for the future?
In a standard first conditional, present simple follows if even when the situation is in the future. In If the bus is late tomorrow, my brother will walk to work, is late belongs in the if clause.
If people do not sleep enough, they feel tired.
Can I put the result before the if clause?
Yes. You can write the result first without changing the conditional pattern. The plants will grow better if we move them near the window has the same first-conditional structure as an if-first sentence.
If I do not sleep enough tonight, I will feel tired tomorrow.
How do I tell zero and first conditionals apart?
Check whether the sentence describes a regular result or one future possibility. If a password is wrong, the website shows an error message is usual. If my password is wrong again, I will reset it looks ahead.
Plants grow better if they get enough light.