English Grammar Lab

← B1

Facts and general results

You will be able to Use the zero conditional for facts, rules and general truths.

Explanation

Use the present simple in both clauses when one situation always produces the same result.

Examples

Detailed course

Understand the grammar point

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Detailed explanation

This lesson focuses on facts and general results. The structure helps learners organise connected speech and writing, and it should always be interpreted as part of a complete message rather than as an isolated formula. Before selecting a form, identify the subject, time reference, clause relationship, and the information that receives emphasis.

Formation is central. Use the present simple in both clauses. When and whenever can often replace if because the relationship is regular or predictable. Build the sentence in stages: identify the grammatical subject, choose the auxiliary or main verb form, and complete the clause in normal English word order. In negatives and questions, check whether the structure supplies its own auxiliary or requires another one.

The pattern can help users explain reasons and results, report experience and information, and choose between related grammar patterns. These purposes may overlap, so context decides which interpretation is natural. Time expressions, determiners, linking words, and punctuation often provide evidence for the correct choice.

A useful contrast prevents overgeneralisation. The first conditional predicts a particular future result, while the zero conditional describes what generally happens. Ask how the nearest alternative would change time, certainty, focus, politeness, or register. A grammatically possible sentence may still communicate the wrong relationship if that contrast is ignored.

The guided examples are complete messages. Notice how the target structure agrees with its subject and how the surrounding vocabulary makes the intended meaning clear. When producing a new example, preserve the relationship between form and meaning while changing the people, place, and lexical details.

A reliable self-check is to paraphrase the sentence in simpler language. If the paraphrase changes the time relationship, degree of certainty, or focus, review the original form. Compare the sentence with the common mistakes and explain why the corrected version is preferable.

In connected speech and writing, the structure also contributes to cohesion. It guides the reader through background information, main events, causes, qualifications, and results. Clause order and connector choice can therefore affect interpretation even when every individual word is correct.

How to form it

Use the present simple in both clauses. When and whenever can often replace if because the relationship is regular or predictable.

Use the structure to organise connected speech and writing.

Use the structure to explain reasons and results.

Use the structure to report experience and information.

Use the structure to choose between related grammar patterns.

The first conditional predicts a particular future result, while the zero conditional describes what generally happens.

Guided examples

If plants do not receive enough light, they grow slowly.

Both clauses use the present simple, receive and grow, because this is always true.

When the soil becomes dry, we add more water.

When replaces if here, since the result is a regular routine, not just a possibility.

If visitors touch this sensor, the display lights up.

Touch and lights up are both present simple, showing an automatic result.

The alarm sounds if the temperature rises too quickly.

The result clause can come first, with sounds and rises both in the present simple.

If we mix blue and yellow paint, we get green.

This is a general fact, so both mix and get stay in the present simple.

Whenever a new member joins, the coordinator explains the rules.

Whenever emphasises that this happens every time, with joins and explains both in the present simple.

Common mistakes

Not: If plants do not receive enough light, they will grow slowly.

Use: If plants do not receive enough light, they grow slowly.

The zero conditional uses the present simple in both clauses, so grow is needed, not will grow.

Not: When the soil will become dry, we add more water.

Use: When the soil becomes dry, we add more water.

After when in a zero conditional, the present simple becomes is needed, not will become.

Not: If visitors touch this sensor, the display will light up.

Use: If visitors touch this sensor, the display lights up.

This describes an automatic, general result, so the present simple lights up is needed, not will light up.

Not: The alarm will sound if the temperature rises too quickly.

Use: The alarm sounds if the temperature rises too quickly.

This is a general rule, so both clauses need the present simple: sounds, not will sound.

Before you practise

  • Identify the communicative purpose.
  • Check the subject and required verb or auxiliary.
  • Confirm the time reference and clause order.
  • Compare the sentence with the nearest alternative.
  • Read the complete sentence and verify the meaning.

Reading text

How the Science Garden Works

About 267 words

Aya and the science club gathered at the school science garden to show younger pupils how the garden system works. The main difficulty was clear: the visitors ask why the garden changes during the day. They spread sensors, lavender, compost, and plant beds across the table and agreed to work through the facts one by one. If the soil gets too dry, the sensor sends a warning. That first detail changed the mood in the room because it gave the group something concrete to discuss. Plants grow better if they receive morning light. After that, the group compared names, times, and places instead of guessing. If lavender opens, bees visit the garden. A short disagreement followed, but it helped them notice a missing detail. Compost becomes warm when it breaks down. When the final note was added, the plan felt realistic and easy to explain. Before they left the school science garden, the result was clear: Aya explains the repeated results they can see. Aya and the science club return to sensors, lavender, compost, and plant beds because each item helps with the task. The notes show why the visitors ask why the garden changes during the day. The group checks the time, the place, and the next decision before moving on. No one rushes, because a small error would change the outcome. The work stays connected to the school science garden, where the problem first became visible. By the end, the result is clear: Aya explains the repeated results they can see. Later, the written record helps the group explain the decision without adding new claims.

Reading comprehension

  1. Who is involved in the reading?

    Show answer

    Aya and the science club

  2. Where does the reading take place?

    Show answer

    the school science garden

  3. What task are the people trying to complete?

    Show answer

    show younger pupils how the garden system works

  4. What problem makes the task less simple?

    Show answer

    the visitors ask why the garden changes during the day

  5. How does the reading end?

    Show answer

    Aya explains the repeated results they can see

Grammar in the text

  1. If the soil gets too dry, the sensor sends a warning.

    Gets and sends are both present simple, showing an automatic, repeated result.

  2. Plants grow better if they receive morning light.

    Grow and receive are both present simple, describing a general fact.

  3. If lavender opens, bees visit the garden.

    Opens and visit are both present simple, matching the zero conditional pattern.

  4. Compost becomes warm when it breaks down.

    Becomes and breaks down are both present simple, describing a natural process.

Key point

Use this pattern when the meaning needs it in the reading: if/when + present simple, present simple. In short, the zero conditional describes facts and repeated results. Example: "If the soil gets too dry, the sensor sends a warning."

Practice

  1. Complete the sentence from the same situation: "If the ____ gets too dry, the sensor sends a warning."

    Show answer

    If the soil gets too dry, the sensor sends a warning.

  2. Complete the sentence from the same situation: "Plants grow ____ if they receive morning light."

    Show answer

    Plants grow better if they receive morning light.

  3. Complete the sentence from the same situation: "If lavender ____ bees visit the garden."

    Show answer

    If lavender opens, bees visit the garden.

  4. Complete the sentence from the same situation: "Compost becomes ____ when it breaks down."

    Show answer

    Compost becomes warm when it breaks down.

Listening practice

Watch a TEDx talk

“How to speak so that people want to listen” — Julian Treasure (TED). Listen for clear, natural English and pick up new vocabulary while you review this grammar point.

Check your understanding

Which of these is one of Julian Treasure's “seven deadly sins of speaking”?

Check your understanding

What does the acronym HAIL stand for in Treasure's four cornerstones of powerful speaking?

Practice

Choose the correct answer. If you heat water to 100°C, it ___.

Practice

Choose the correct answer. Plants ___ if they do not get water.

Practice

Choose the correct answer. If I ___ coffee late, I cannot sleep.

Written practice

Produce the answer yourself. Capitalisation and final punctuation do not affect validation, but the grammar and word order must be correct.

Grammar transformation

Written practice

Combine the two sentences using the zero conditional.

You heat ice. It melts.