The 0 and 1st conditionals in English.

 

Here is our video on 0 and 1st conditionals in English.

 

 

What are conditionals?

Conditionals are sentences that usually begin with ‘IF’.

We use them to talk about different possibilities ‘IF’ something happens or happened.

There are 4 main types of conditionals in English, as well as the mixed conditionals. These 4 types are the:

0 conditional

1st conditional

2nd conditional

and

3rd conditional

The 0 conditional is for something which is always true.

The first conditional is for something which is either likely or possible.

The second conditional is for something which unlikely or impossible.

The third conditional is for something which is for something impossible, because it’s about the past.

Look at this arrow of probability.

Can you see how conditionals go with this arrow?

0, 1st, 2nd and 3rd are all related to their level of probability, with 0 being always true all the way to 3rd which is totally impossible.

 

Each conditional has two parts.

These parts are called ‘clauses’

A clause is a part of a sentence.

The two clauses in each conditional are the ‘IF’ clause and the ‘MAIN’ clause.

We use the zero conditional to talk about something which always happens, 100%.

The structure is: IF + PRESENT TENSE + PRESENT TENSE

For example, “If you mix blue and yellow you get green”, this is always true.

In both the if clause and the main clause we use a present tense verb.

In the ‘if clause’, mix is in the present tense and in the ‘main clause’ , get, is in the present tense.

Some more examples.

“If you heat water to 100 degrees, it boils.”

‘heat’ is present tense, “boils” is present tense.

“If you press this button, the TV turns on.”

“press” is present tense and ‘turns’ is present tense.

You can also swap these clauses.

So you can say.

If you mix blue and yellow you get green

or

You get green if you mix blue and yellow

or

‘If you press this button, the TV turns on’

or

‘The TV turns on, if you press this button.”

 

Zero conditionals are used for scientific facts, explaining instructions and other things.

A zero conditional is not necessarily true but it means you think that it is true.

So for example:

“If you work hard, you succeed.”

Is this always true?

Not necessarily, but if you think it’st true you can use the zero conditional.

Also we don’t necessarily need ‘if” all the time, we can replace ‘if’ with ‘when’ and some other words.

So we can say ‘When you mix blue and yellow, you get green.’

 

Right now let’s talk about the first conditional.

The first conditional is the most important conditional in the English language because it’s the one you need for real everyday life and to discuss possibilities.

It is used to talk about real possibilities or situations.

The structure is, IF + PRESENT + FUTURE

Example:

‘If it is sunny tomorrow, I will go out.”

The ‘is’ is present tense, ‘will go‘ is future tense.

 

“If I have enough money, I will buy the shirt.”

“have is present tense, “will buy” is future tense.

“If I see the teacher this afternoon, I will give him the homework”.

‘See’ is present tense, ‘will give’ is future tense.

 

Remember we can also swap the clauses, so we can say:
“If is sunny tomorrow, I will go out.”

or

“I will go out, if it is sunny tomorrow.”

 

“If I have enough money, I will buy the shirt.”

or

“I will buy the shirt, if I have enough money.”

 

We can also use the 1st conditional with modal verbs.

So, for example, if + present + MODAL verb.

“If it is sunny tomorrow, I may go out.”

“If it is sunny tomorrow, I might go out.”

May and might are both modal verbs.

 

We can also use the 1st conditional with imperative verbs.

So, for example, if + present + IMPERATIVE verb.

“If you go to the shop, buy me a sandwich please.”

buy is an imperative verb.

“If you see Peter, give him the book.”

give is an imperative verb.

 

 

If you have any questions please ask in the comments section.

Have a great day!