English Mastery
Module 2 · Conditionals

Present Real Conditional (Zero Conditional)

Intermediate35 min25 questions7 sections
Step 1

Quick Look

The Zero Conditional talks about things that are ALWAYS true when the condition is met — scientific facts, rules, routines, and habits. Both halves take the Simple Present. It is the simplest conditional, and the only one where ‘if’ and ‘when’ mean the same thing.
Sentence TypeStructure + Example
Formula
If+Simple Present, Simple Present
If you heat ice, it melts.
Negative
If you don’t water plants, they die.
If = When
When you heat ice, it melts. (identical meaning — because it happens every time)

The golden rule: Zero Conditional = 100% certainty, every single time. If the result happens only sometimes or only in the future, you are in the wrong chapter — that’s the First Conditional (Chapter 3).

Always true: IF = WHEN
Simple PresentSimple PresentIFRESULTyou heat iceit melts every single time100% CERTAINIMAGINARYTHE SWAP TESTIfWhenWhenever==you heat ice,it melts.same meaning
Both halves take the Simple Present. If you can swap if for when (or whenever) without changing the meaning, it is a Zero Conditional.
Step 2

When to Use It

IFRESULTyou mix cement withtoo much waterit weakens alwaysSimple PresentSimple Present
Use 1

Scientific facts and general truths

Laws of nature — the result never varies.
  • If you mix cement with too much water, it weakens.
  • If the temperature crosses 45°C, tar roads soften.
  • Plants die if they don’t get sunlight.
IFRESULTyou press thisbuttonthe generatorstarts ruleSimple PresentSimple Present
Use 2

Rules, systems, and processes

How things work — offices, machines, laws.
  • If you press this button, the generator starts.
  • If a cheque bounces, the bank charges a penalty.
  • If you don’t renew the licence, it lapses automatically.
IFRESULTI finish work earlyI walk home habitSimple PresentSimple Present
Use 3

Personal habits and routines

What you always do in a certain situation.
  • If I finish work early, I walk home from the office.
  • If clients visit after 6, we show them the lit-up sample flat.
  • She takes an umbrella if the sky looks cloudy.
IFRESULTthe alarm ringsleave the building! orderSimple Presentimperative
Use 4

Instructions with imperatives

The result clause can be a command.
  • If the alarm rings, leave the building immediately.
  • If anyone asks for me, take a message.
  • Call the electrician if the meter sparks.
Zero or First?
Does it happen EVERY time?YES: every timeNO: one future event2Zero ConditionalIFSimple PresentRESULTSimple PresentIf you heat ice,it melts.3First ConditionalIFSimple PresentRESULTwill+V1If you heat ice,it will melt.
Same words, different result clause: a fact that is true every time is Zero; one future event takes will (Chapter 3).
Step 3

Hindi Concept Note

अHindi Concept Noteहिंदी में समझिए
Zero Conditional उन बातों के लिए है जो हर बार सच होती हैं — विज्ञान के नियम, rules, आदतें।
अगर बर्फ़ को गर्म करो, तो वह पिघलती है।
If you heat ice, it melts.
दोनों हिस्सों में Simple Present — कोई will नहीं, कोई would नहीं।
पहचान की trick: अगर ‘अगर’ की जगह ‘जब भी’ (whenever) रख सको और मतलब वही रहे, तो Zero Conditional है। ‘जब भी बर्फ़ गर्म करो, पिघलती है’ — same बात।
Step 4

Common Mistakes Hindi Speakers Make

Wrong
Right
Why
If you will heat ice, it melts.
If you heat ice, it melts.
No will anywhere in a Zero Conditional — both sides are Simple Present.
If you heat ice, it will melts.
If you heat ice, it melts. (fact) / it will melt. (one future event)
Never will + verb-s. And for an always-true fact, plain present is the natural choice.
If he don’t pay on time, the bank charges interest.
If he doesn’t pay on time, the bank charges interest.
He/she/it doesn’t. The Chapter 1 (Module 1) rule follows you everywhere.
If you mixes red and white, you get pink.
If you mix red and white, you get pink.
‘You’ takes the base verb — no -s.
When if the bell rings, the class ends.
When the bell rings, the class ends. / If the bell rings...
Use when OR if — never both together.
If I am finishing early, I walk home.
If I finish early, I walk home.
Habits take Simple Present, not continuous — even inside conditionals.
Step 5

Signal Words

Zero Conditional signals:
alwaysevery timewhenever — or the feeling of them
Scientific/technical statements (heat, mix, press, boil)
Rules and penalties (if you break X, Y happens)
If replaceable by when/whenever with no change in meaning
Step 6

Practice

Set A

Fill in the blanks

0 / 10
  1. 1
    If you (leave) milk out in summer, it (spoil) by evening.
  2. 2
    If the inverter battery (run) low, the light (start) blinking.
  3. 3
    Whenever he (visit) Delhi, he (stay) at his sister’s place.
  4. 4
    If you (not/pay) the maintenance, the society (send) a notice.
  5. 5
    Ice (float) if you (drop) it in water.
  6. 6
    If a property (have) a clear title, buyers (trust) it more.
  7. 7
    If she (drink) coffee at night, she (not/sleep) well.
  8. 8
    (call) the plumber if the tank (overflow).
  9. 9
    If the signal (turn) red, traffic (stop).
  10. 10
    My phone (hang) if I (open) too many apps.
Set B

Correct the mistake

0 / 8
  1. 11
    If you will press this switch, the pump starts.
  2. 12
    If she cook rice daily, she uses the small cooker.
  3. 13
    When if the rates drop, buyers return to the market.
  4. 14
    If you don’t waters the plants, they dies.
  5. 15
    If he is drinking tea every morning, he feels fresh. (habit meaning)
  6. 16
    If you heat iron, it will expands.
  7. 17
    The dog barks, if strangers come. (punctuation)
  8. 18
    If we finishes early on Fridays, we go home by 6.
Set C

Translate into English

0 / 7
  1. 19
    अगर तुम बर्फ़ को धूप में रखो, तो वह पिघल जाती है।
  2. 20
    अगर वह जल्दी उठता है, तो सैर पर जाता है।
  3. 21
    जब भी बिजली जाती है, generator अपने आप चालू हो जाता है।
  4. 22
    अगर दूध उबल जाए, तो गैस बंद कर देना।
  5. 23
    अगर बारिश होती है, तो यह सड़क भर जाती है।
  6. 24
    अगर आप समय पर किराया नहीं देते, तो मालिक नाराज़ होता है।
  7. 25
    अगर कोई मेरा पूछे, तो कहना मैं site पर हूँ।
Step 7

Answer Key

Show answersHide answers
Answers · Set A
1
leave ... spoils
2
runs ... starts
3
visits ... stays
4
do not (don’t) pay ... sends
5
floats ... drop
6
has ... trust
7
drinks ... does not (doesn’t) sleep
8
Call ... overflows
9
turns ... stops
10
hangs ... open
Answers · Set B
11
If you press this switch, the pump starts. (No will in Zero Conditional.)
12
If she cooks rice daily, she uses the small cooker. (She cooks.)
13
When the rates drop, buyers return to the market. (When OR if, not both.)
14
If you don’t water the plants, they die. (Base verb after don’t; they die.)
15
If he drinks tea every morning, he feels fresh. (Habit Simple Present.)
16
If you heat iron, it expands. (No will; and never will + -s.)
17
The dog barks if strangers come. (No comma when result comes first.)
18
If we finish early on Fridays, we go home by 6. (We finish.)
Answers · Set C
19
If you keep ice in the sun, it melts.
20
If he gets up early, he goes for a walk.
21
Whenever the electricity goes, the generator starts automatically.
22
If the milk boils over, turn off the gas.
23
If it rains, this road gets flooded / waterlogged.
24
If you don’t pay the rent on time, the landlord gets upset.
25
If anyone asks for me, say (that) I am at the site.

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Next up · Chapter 3Future Real Conditional (First Conditional)

Real plans, real warnings, real deals: if the price is right, we will close today.