Grammar
Zero and first conditionals: facts and likely results
If you leave bread in the oven too long, it burns. If the oven is free later, I will bake a loaf. Both sentences use if, but one describes what normally happens and the other looks ahead to one possible situation.
Choose the zero conditional for facts and routines, and the first conditional for a possible future condition and 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 the weather improves tomorrow, we will eat outside. /ɪf ðə ˈweðə ɪmˈpruːvz təˈmɒrəʊ, wiː wɪl iːt ˌaʊtˈsaɪd/
The short answer
Use the zero conditional for a fact, rule, or usual result: If a plant does not get water, it dies. Use the first conditional for a possible future condition and result: If the weather improves tomorrow, we will eat outside. After if, use a present form in both patterns.
If the shop opens early, I buy fruit before work.
Why it works: This is a routine. The speaker regularly buys fruit when that condition happens.
5 more examples
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If a phone battery reaches zero, the phone switches off.
This gives the usual result of a battery reaching zero, so both clauses use the present simple.
Not this:If my phone battery
reaches zero tonight, I will use the charger in the lobby. What changes: Tonight makes this one possible future situation, so the result clause uses will. -
If the office is quiet, I concentrate more easily.
The sentence describes the speaker's usual response in that situation.
Not this:If the office
is quiet this afternoon, I will finish the report there. What changes: This afternoon refers to a particular future time and a possible plan. -
If you press the blue button, the screen returns to the menu.
This is an instruction about what the device normally does.
Not this:If you
press the blue button after the update, the screen will restart. What changes: The update creates a future condition, and restart is its expected future result. -
If my neighbour cooks curry, the hallway smells of spices.
The present simple describes a familiar result that happens when the neighbour cooks.
Not this:If my neighbour
cooks curry on Friday, I will bring some rice. What changes: Friday points to a possible future occasion, so will bring states the response. -
If the museum is closed, visitors use the side entrance for the cafe.
This describes the usual arrangement whenever the museum is closed.
Not this:If the museum
is closed when we arrive, we will visit the gallery nearby. What changes: When we arrive makes the condition part of one future plan.
Read the full guide
First ask whether the sentence describes a pattern that is true whenever the condition happens, or one future situation that may happen. A zero conditional usually has present simple in both clauses. A first conditional usually has present simple after if and will in the result clause. Do not use will after if for this usual first-conditional meaning.
Start with the kind of meaning
Both conditionals connect an if-clause and a result clause. The zero conditional describes something that happens generally or regularly. The first conditional describes one possible future situation. Decide which meaning you need before you choose the verb form.
If you add salt to ice, the ice melts more slowly.
This describes a general result, so it is a zero conditional.
If you add salt to the path tomorrow, the ice will melt more quickly.
Tomorrow makes this a possible future action and result.
Does If the alarm rings, I check the door describe a routine or one future plan?
It describes a routine. The speaker checks the door whenever the alarm rings.
Use the zero conditional for facts and routines
Use the zero conditional for a general fact, a rule, an instruction, or something that regularly happens. The common pattern is if plus present simple, followed by present simple. The order can change without changing the basic meaning.
If the scanner cannot read the code, it shows an error message.
The scanner shows this message whenever that condition occurs.
I take a short break if I start to lose focus.
The if-clause comes second, but the sentence still describes a regular habit.
Choose the form for a rule: If the light is red, drivers ____ . Stop or will stop?
Use stop. A general rule uses the present simple in both clauses.
Use the first conditional for a possible future result
Use the first conditional when the condition may happen in the future and you want to say what the result will be. Put the present simple after if. Use will plus the base verb in the result clause when you are predicting or deciding on the likely result.
If the parcel arrives before noon, I will take it to the post room.
Arrives is present simple after if, while will take gives the future result.
If the conference ends early, we can catch the five o'clock train.
Can catch gives a possible result. A first conditional does not always need will.
Which sentence is usual: If Lena will call, I will answer, or If Lena calls, I will answer?
Use If Lena calls, I will answer. In the usual first conditional, use a present form after if.
Keep will in the result clause
It can feel natural to put will after if because the sentence concerns the future. In the usual first conditional, English uses a present form after if instead. Put will in the main clause to show the future result.
If the printer runs out of paper, I will refill it.
Runs is present simple after if. Will refill is the planned future response.
If he misses the bus, he will be late for class.
Misses names the possible condition, and will be late names the result.
Complete the sentence: If the meeting ____ late, I will send a message. Use finishes or will finish.
Use finishes. The if-clause uses the present simple even though the meeting is in the future.
Change the clause order and punctuation carefully
You may begin with the condition or the result. When the if-clause comes first, put a comma before the result clause. When the result comes first, do not usually add a comma before the if-clause. The grammar pattern stays the same.
If the road is icy in the morning, the school will open late.
The opening if-clause is followed by a comma.
The school will open late if the road is icy in the morning.
The if-clause comes second here, so a comma is not normally needed.
Add punctuation: If the team wins tomorrow we will celebrate after the match.
Write: If the team wins tomorrow, we will celebrate after the match. The opening if-clause needs a comma.
Notice a routine and a future plan
A similar sentence can be a zero or first conditional depending on what the speaker means. A present simple result often describes what normally happens. Will points to a future result that depends on one possible condition. Read the time words and the surrounding situation, then decide what the speaker means.
If the cafe is busy, we choose a table on the terrace.
This can describe the group's usual choice whenever the cafe is busy.
If the cafe is busy tonight, we will choose a table on the terrace.
Tonight makes the choice part of one future visit.
Which phrase makes the second sentence a future plan: is busy or tonight?
Tonight points to one future occasion. The meaning and context tell you to use the first conditional.
Before you go
Remember this
Use the zero conditional when the result normally happens: if plus present simple, then present simple. Use the first conditional for a possible future situation: if plus present simple, then will plus a base verb. Put will in the result clause, not in the usual if-clause.
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 "Zero and first conditionals: facts and likely results"
What is the zero conditional in English?
Use the zero conditional for a general fact, a repeated result, a routine, or a rule. It usually has a present simple verb in both clauses. For example, If a phone battery reaches zero, the phone switches off describes what normally happens whenever that condition occurs.
If a phone battery reaches zero, the phone switches off.
What is the first conditional in English?
Use the first conditional for a possible future condition and its likely result. The if-clause usually uses present simple, and the result clause often uses will plus a base verb. If the office is quiet this afternoon, I will finish the report there is about one possible future plan.
If my phone battery reaches zero tonight, I will use the charger in the lobby.
Why is there no will after if in the first conditional?
In the usual first-conditional pattern, English uses present simple after if even when the meaning is future. Say If Lena calls, I will answer, not If Lena will call, I will answer. Will belongs in the result clause, where it states what is expected to happen.
If the office is quiet, I concentrate more easily.
Can a first conditional use can or may instead of will?
Yes. The result clause can use a modal that matches the intended meaning. If the conference ends early, we can catch the five o'clock train shows a possible result. Use may when you want to show possibility rather than a firm prediction or plan.
If the office is quiet this afternoon, I will finish the report there.
Where does the comma go in a conditional sentence?
Use a comma after an if-clause when it comes first: If the road is icy in the morning, the school will open late. Do not usually use a comma when the result clause comes first: The school will open late if the road is icy in the morning.
If you press the blue button, the screen returns to the menu.