Zero conditional: what happens if…? Zero conditional exercises for facts and routines
About this lesson
This A2 drill lesson gives zero conditional exercises with if or when + present simple, from If you heat ice, it melts to If you're cold, close the window.
- Grammar
- Present simple in both parts, -s for he, she and it, don't / doesn't, an instruction as the result, the comma, and questions like What do you do if…?
- Topic
- A science museum: exhibit signs in the Wonder Lab at Sparkworks, an invented museum for kids, a try-at-home sheet, Professor Fizz's answers and a chat with Bodhi, 8.
- Activities
- Gap-fills, choices, sorting (comma or no comma, don't or doesn't), matching, drag-and-drop texts, word order, tables, quizzes, a chat and a test.
What's inside
Chapter 1The rule
- PictureUnlock
- Study the scheme: the zero conditionalGrammar schemeTry it
- Is the sentence correct? Mark true or falseTrue or falseUnlock
- Sort the sentences: what happens, or what to do?Sort into columnsTry it
- Choose the right formChoose the optionUnlock
- Fill in the gaps: he / she / it in the present simpleFill in the gapsUnlock
Chapter 2Facts: what happens if…?
- Fill in the gaps: facts in the present simpleFill in the gapsTry it
- Choose the right words: factsChoose the optionUnlock
- Match the beginnings and the endingsMatchUnlock
- Drag the verbs into the gapsDrag and dropUnlock
- Put the words in the right orderUnjumbleUnlock
- Find the mistake and choose the right wordsQuizUnlock
- Read the science text and fill in the gaps: present simpleFill in the gapsUnlock
Chapter 3Routines and negatives
- Fill in the gaps: negatives in the present simpleFill in the gapsUnlock
- Fill in the table: he / she / itFill in the tableTry it
- Choose the right words: every dayChoose the optionUnlock
- Sort the sentences: comma or no comma?Sort into columnsUnlock
- Write the sentences the other way: result firstFill in the gapsUnlock
- Put the words in the right order: routinesUnjumbleUnlock
- Read Mabel's post and drag the words into the gapsDrag and dropUnlock
Chapter 4Do this! Instructions and questions
- Choose the right instructionChoose the optionTry it
- Fill in the gaps: what not to doFill in the gapsUnlock
- Drag the instructions into the gapsDrag and dropUnlock
- Write the questions with ifFill in the gapsUnlock
- Choose the right question for each answerQuizUnlock
- Put the words in order to make questionsUnjumbleUnlock
Chapter 5Real life: A day at Sparkworks
- Read the signs in the Wonder LabReal-life documentUnlock
- Read the signs again: true or false?True or falseUnlock
- Read the activity sheet and fill in the gaps: present simpleFill in the gapsUnlock
- Read Professor Fizz's answers and drag the words into the gapsDrag and dropUnlock
- Read the rules for school groups and choose the right wordsChoose the optionUnlock
- Choose the right replies: Bodhi asks youChatTry it
- Test yourself: choose the right answerQuizUnlock
Chapter 6Homework
- Choose the right form: at homeChoose the optionUnlock
- Fill in the gaps: nature facts in the present simpleFill in the gapsUnlock
- Sort the sentences: don't or doesn't?Sort into columnsUnlock
- Match the beginnings and the endings: everyday lifeMatchUnlock
- Fill in the gaps: present simple negatives at home and at schoolFill in the gapsUnlock
- Put the words in the right order: if and whenUnjumbleUnlock
- Fill in the table: questions and short answersFill in the tableUnlock
- Choose the correct sentenceQuizUnlock
- Choose the right words: instructionsChoose the optionUnlock
- Write the questions for the answersFill in the gapsUnlock
- Drag the words into the gaps: everyday lifeDrag and dropUnlock
- Match the questions and the answersMatchUnlock
- Mark true or false: is the sentence correct?True or falseUnlock
- Read Hedda's post and fill in the gaps: present simpleFill in the gapsUnlock
- Read the plant care card and drag the words into the gapsDrag and dropUnlock
Grammar: the zero conditional: if or when + present simple
The zero conditional is for facts that are always true, for routines and for instructions. Both parts use the present simple: If you heat ice, it melts. When I get home, I take off my shoes. The result can also be an instruction: If you're cold, close the window.
Zero conditional: what happens if…?
Facts, routines and instructions: If / When + present simple, then present simple or an instruction.
Facts, routines and instructions
A fact is always true: If water gets very cold, it freezes. A routine is what usually happens: If it rains, we take the bus to school. An instruction tells someone what to do: If the light is red, don't touch the button.
If / When + present simple, present simple
If / When + present simplepresent simple
If you heat ice, it melts.
If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.
When I get home, I take off my shoes.
When do we use it?
Facts: always true
- If water gets very cold, it freezes.
- Plants die if they don't get water.
Routines: what usually happens
- When I'm tired, I go to bed early.
- If it rains, we take the bus to school.
Instructions: what to do
- If you're cold, close the window.
- If the light is red, don't touch the button.
He, she, it, negatives and instructions
He, she and it add -s, -es or -ies: When Grandpa watches TV, he falls asleep. Negatives take don't or doesn't + verb. An instruction is the base verb or don't + verb: If you're cold, wear a sweater. If you feel sick, don't go to school.
| If / When … | Result | Remember |
|---|---|---|
| If you heat ice, | it melts. | I / you / we / they: verb |
| If Dad drinks coffee late, | he sleeps badly. | he / she / it: verb + s |
| When Grandpa watches TV, | he falls asleep. | -ch, -sh, -s, -x, go: + es (watches, goes) |
| When the baby is hungry, | she cries. | consonant + y: ies (cry → cries) |
| If plants don't get light, | they don't grow. | negative: don't + verb |
| If Mia doesn't sleep well, | she feels tired. | he / she / it: doesn't + verb (no s) |
| If you're cold, | wear a sweater. | an instruction: the base verb |
| If you feel sick, | don't go to school. | a negative instruction: don't + verb |
Questions with if
Do or does goes in the result part of the question: What do you do if you're late? Does ice melt if you heat it? – Yes, it does. What happens if…? is a fixed question: What happens if you drop an egg? – It breaks.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What happens if you drop an egg? | It breaks. |
| What do you do if you're late? | I run! |
| Does ice melt if you heat it? | Yes, it does. |
| Do you go out if it snows? | Yes, I do. I love snow! |
The comma, if or when, and will
With the if or when part first, a comma follows it; with the result first, there's none: I feel happy when the sun shines. When means every time, if means maybe. If you heat ice, it will melt is correct too, but this lesson keeps the present simple.
Comma or no comma?
If / When part first: put a comma after it. When the sun shines, I feel happy. Result first: no comma. I feel happy when the sun shines. The meaning is the same.
If or when? And will?
For facts and routines, if and when mean almost the same. When = every time (When I get home…), if = maybe (If it rains…). People also say "If you heat ice, it will melt." That's correct too, but in this lesson we use the present simple in both parts.
Common mistakes
Watch for If you will put ice in the sun, If water boil, If you're tired, to go to bed and If Tom don't eat. Check the subject before the verb: he, she and it take -s or doesn't.
Common mistakes
If you will put ice in the sun, it melts.
If you put ice in the sun, it melts.
no will after if or when
If water boil, it makes steam.
If water boils, it makes steam.
he / she / it: + s
If you're tired, to go to bed.
If you're tired, go to bed.
an instruction: the base verb, no to
If Tom don't eat, he gets hungry.
If Tom doesn't eat, he gets hungry.
he / she / it: doesn't
Examples
- If you put oil in water, the oil stays on top.a fact
- When it's sunny, we eat lunch in the garden.a routine
- If you don't understand, ask your teacher.an instruction
- My dog barks if someone knocks on the door.the result first: no comma
- What do you do if you feel bored? — I call a friend.a question
- If it doesn't rain for weeks, the grass turns brown.a negative
More lessons on this grammar: Zero and first conditional lessons and exercises
Try the zero conditional exercises
Try them yourself: these are the same exercises your students do in edio.
What's in the lesson
- 41 auto-checked exercises
- 4 games
- 1 real-life document
- 1 grammar scheme
- 1 picture
The main objectives of this lesson are to:
- state facts with the present simple in both parts: If you heat chocolate, it melts. If you mix blue and yellow, you get green.
- talk about routines with when or if: When my alarm rings, I get up and open the window.
- give an instruction after the if part: If you feel sick, tell your teacher or a helper. If the floor is wet, don't run.
- keep will out of the if part and add -s for he, she and it: If water boils, it makes steam, not If water boil
- ask and answer questions: What does your dog do if it hears thunder? Does wood float if you put it in water? – Yes, it does.
- Grammar:
- zero conditional · if / when + present simple · instructions · What happens if…?
- Topic:
- grammar practice · science · museum · everyday routines
Teaching tips
- Run one small experiment in class: put salt on one ice cube and not on another, and students write what they see with If you put salt on ice, it…
- Make a rules poster: groups write five instructions for a museum, a pool or the classroom, each with an if part and a comma: If you lose your group, go to the information desk.
- Chain the questions: one student asks What do you do if you can't sleep?, the next answers in the present simple and asks someone else a new What do you do if…?
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The whole course: English Grammar Practice · A2
English Grammar Practice · A2 has 28 drill lessons, one grammar point each: the past simple and continuous, used to, comparatives, going to and will, the present perfect, modals, the zero and first conditionals and questions. Each has the rule as a scheme, 43 to 47 exercises that check themselves, 15 of them for homework, and no new words.See the course
- 1Past simple with -ed: moving day!
- 2Past simple irregular verbs: we went, we saw, we bought
- 3Past simple negatives and questions: where did the cake go?
- 4Past continuous: what were you doing at 9 p.m.?
- 5Past simple or past continuous: what were you doing when it happened?
- 6Used to: how things were back then
- 7Comparatives: which one is better?
- 8Superlatives: the best in town
- 9As … as, too, enough: is it the right size?
- 10Adverbs of manner: how did she drive?
- 11Much, many, a few, a little: how much do we need?
- 12Possessive pronouns: whose is it?
- 13Be going to: what's your plan?
- 14Will: what will the future bring?
- 15Present continuous for plans: what are you doing tonight?
- 16Will vs going to: decided before or right now?
- 17Present perfect: have you ever tried it?
- 18Just, already, yet: have you done it yet?
- 19For and since: how long have you known her?
- 20Present perfect or past simple: up to now or finished time?
- 21Must and have to: what are the rules?
- 22Should: what should I do?
- 23Can, could, may: could you help me, please?
- 24Verb + to or -ing: what do you enjoy doing?
- 25Zero conditional: what happens if…?
- 26First conditional: what will you do if it rains?
- 27Articles: a, the or no article?
- 28Subject and object questions: who won the quiz?