The Zero Conditional
In Smrt 115 Grammar 12-1, we learned how to use the zero conditional to state a fact, or a general truth about something. We use this to talk about results that will always happen given a certain condition.
Structure
| If | present simple (conditional clause) | , | present simple (result clause) |
Examples
- If it rains, the lakes fill.
- If water reaches 100 degrees, it boils.
- If plants don’t get water, they die.
- My cat always runs under the bed if she hears fireworks.
The order of the clauses is interchangeable. The comma is not used when you change the order of the clauses, but the meaning is the same.
Instead of using if in the conditional clause, as seen in the examples above, you can use when, whenever, each time, every time. Again, the order of the clauses is interchangeable.
- Each time the Earth rotates around the sun, we have New Year’s celebrations.
- Every time a hurricane hits a city, homes and businesses flood.
- The bats come out when the sun goes down.
- The mosquitoes all die whenever the temperature goes below freezing.
First Conditional
As we just read, Zero Conditionals are used to express general truths; however, First Conditionals are used to express possible truths in a given situation. In Smrt 120 Unit 9-1, we learned how to use the First Conditional to express a possible condition and its expected result in the future.
Structure
| If | Present Simple | , | will/won’t + Base Verb |
Examples
- If you read the newspaper, you will learn a lot.
- We'll kick you out of school if we find out that you’re cheating.
- If you run a lot, you will lose weight.
Again, the order of the clauses is interchangeable, and their order does not affect the sentence’s meaning.
Instead of using if in the conditional clause, as seen in the examples above, you can use as long as/so long as and provided that/providing that.
- As long as he reads, I will be happy.
- The people will not support her so long as she lies to them.
- Provided that they report facts, they will sell newspapers.
- The website will fail providing that they report fake news.
When using the first conditional, there are other phrases we can use instead of if. These phrases include even if, unless, and in case. The phrases have slightly different meanings than if.
Even if…
The use of Even if makes the conditional clause more emphatic. Even if... suggests that something will happen regardless of the condition.
- Even if we read the news, we will not know the truth.
- Even if I lie, my face will reveal the truth.
- The truth will come out even if I spread fake news.
Unless...
You can use Unless... instead of If...not…,
- Unless we start reading the news, we will not know what is going on.
= If we do not start reading the news, we will not know what is going on. - Unless you read the news from every angle, you will not fully understand it.
= If you do not read the news from every angle, you will not fully understand it. - The organization will not last unless it starts reporting real news.
= If the organization doesn’t start reporting real news, it will not last.
In case...
If clauses give a condition, but clauses with in case give a reason, or an explanation, for why the condition exists.
- In case I don’t know a word in the text, I’ll bring my dictionary.
- I will not lie in case they are recording me.
- I will bring a book in case I get bored.