Conditional Sentences: Zero and First

Conditionals

Lesson Summary
Conditional sentences express situations and their possible outcomes. There are different types of
conditional sentences, but for this lesson, we will focus on:

1. Zero Conditional (General Truths & Facts)

• Use: Used for general truths, laws of nature, or things that are always true.

• Structure: If + present simple, present simple

• Examples:

• If you heat water to 100°C, it boils.

• If the sun sets, it gets dark.

• If you mix blue and yellow, you get green.

✅ Key point: Both parts are always in the present simple, and the meaning does not change.

2. First Conditional (Real & Possible Situations)

• Use: Used for real and possible future events. It talks about what will likely happen if a certain condition
is met.

• Structure: If + present simple, will + base verb

• Examples:

• If you study, you will pass the exam.

• If it rains tomorrow, we will stay home.

• If she calls, I will answer.

✅ Key point: The first part (if-clause) is in the present simple, and the second part (main clause) uses “will”
to talk about the future.
Exercise 1: Sorting Conditional Sentences
1. You won’t pass the test unless you study.

2. If you heat metal, it expands.

3. The food will spoil unless you put it in the fridge.

4. If you don’t wear a jacket, you get cold in winter.

5. She won’t be happy if she doesn’t get the job.

6. Unless you press the start button, the machine doesn’t work.

7. Ice melts if you leave it in the sun.

8. If we don’t leave now, we will be late.

9. If the baby is hungry, she cries.

10. You won’t improve unless you practice every day.

Exercise 2: Gap Fill for Conditional Type 0

1. If you ______ (heat) water to 100°C, it ______ (boil).

2. The sky ______ (turn) orange if the sun ______ (set).

3. If you ______ (mix) blue and yellow, you ______ (get) green.

4. Plants ______ (die) unless they ______ (get) enough water.

5. If you ______ (touch) a flame, it ______ (burn) you.

6. Water ______ (freeze) unless the temperature ______ (rise) above 0°C.

7. Ice ______ (melt) if it ______ (be) in the sun.

8. Unless it ______ (rain), the ground ______ (stay) dry.

9. If you ______ (drop) something, it ______ (fall) to the ground.

10. If people ______ (exercise) regularly, they ______ (feel) healthier.

Exercise 3: Gap Fill for Conditional Type 1

1. If you ______ (study) hard, you ______ (pass) the exam.

2. Unless she ______ (arrive) soon, we ______ (leave) without her.

3. If it ______ (rain) tomorrow, we ______ (stay) indoors.

4. You ______ (feel) better if you ______ (rest) for a while.

5. If I ______ (find) your keys, I ______ (call) you.

6. Unless we ______ (leave) now, we ______ (miss) the bus.

7. If he ______ (work) late, he ______ (be) tired tomorrow.

8. I ______ (help) you unless you ______ (ask) for it.

9. If they ______ (not hurry), they ______ (be) late to the party.

10. Unless you ______ (exercise) regularly, you ______ (not stay) fit.

Exercise 4: Mixed Conditional (Type 0 & Type 1)

1. If you ______ (leave) butter out of the fridge, it ______ (melt).

2. You ______ (catch) a cold unless you ______ (wear) a scarf.

3. If the weather ______ (be) good, we ______ (have) a picnic tomorrow.

4. The car ______ (not start) unless you ______ (press) the button.

5. Unless I ______ (get) enough sleep, I ______ (feel) exhausted the next day.

6. If he ______ (eat) spicy food, he ______ (get) heartburn.

7. You ______ (be) upset if you ______ (not finish) your project on time.

8. If you ______ (turn) off the lights, the room ______ (be) dark.

9. Unless it ______ (snow) heavily, we ______ (go) skiing this weekend.

10. If they ______ (work) together, they ______ (complete) the task faster.

11. Unless you ______ (ask) for help, you ______ (not finish) your work.

12. If I ______ (not have) a meeting, I ______ (join) you for lunch.

13. If she ______ (not walk) fast, she ______ (miss) the bus.

14. If we ______ (run) out of milk, we ______ (need) to go to the store.

15. Unless you ______ (apply) pressure, the wound ______ (not heal) properly.
Exercise 5: Error Correction Exercise
1. If I would have known about the meeting, I would have come.

2. Unless you don’t study, you will pass the exam.

3. If he would be here, he would help us.

4. If I will go to the store, I will buy milk.

5. If she would ask for help, she would finish the project faster.

6. Unless you will finish your work, you will not be able to relax.

7. If it would rain, we would have to stay inside.

8. If you will press the button, the machine starts.

9. If I was rich, I would travel around the world.

10. Unless they would invite me, I wouldn’t go to the party.

Exercise 6: Transformation Exercise

1. If you heat water to 100°C, it boils. → If you heat water to 100°C, it ______ (boil).

2. If you add salt to the solution, it dissolves. → If you add salt to the solution, it ______ (dissolve).

3. If the temperature drops below 0°C, water freezes. → If the temperature drops below 0°C, water ______
(freeze).

4. If you touch something hot, it burns. → If you touch something hot, it ______ (burn).

5. If you mix red and blue, you get purple. → If you mix red and blue, you ______ (get) purple.

6. If I drop this glass, it shatters. → If I drop this glass, it ______ (shatter).

7. If you put the cup on the table, it stays there. → If you put the cup on the table, it ______ (stay) there.

8. If the light is on, it means someone is home. → If the light is on, it ______ (mean) someone is home.

Exercise 7: Time Expression Focus

1. If it ______ (rain) when we are walking, we ______ (run) to the nearest cafe.

2. We ______ (leave) as soon as you ______ (finish) your work.

3. When the sun ______ (set), we ______ (go) for a walk.

4. If you ______ (not water) the plants, they ______ (die) by the end of the week.

5. I ______ (call) you when I ______ (arrive) at the airport.

6. As soon as I ______ (hear) the news, I ______ (tell) you.

7. We ______ (not go) to the park if it ______ (rain).

8. If he ______ (study) while we are at the party, he ______ (finish) the assignment.

9. I ______ (not start) the meeting until everyone ______ (arrive).

10. By the time you ______ (get) there, I ______ (leave).