Section 1 of 4
Zero Conditional (General Truths and Facts)
Used for scientific facts, general truths, and habits. Both clauses use present tense.
✓ Rules
3- 1
Structure: If + present simple, present simple
- 2
Use for: facts, scientific laws, general truths, automatic consequences
- 3
'When' can replace 'if' in Zero Conditional without changing meaning
Examples
3Correct
If temperatures rise, ice caps melt.
Scientific fact
Correct
If governments invest in education, economic productivity increases.
General causal truth
Correct
When air quality deteriorates, respiratory illnesses become more common.
'When' = 'if' in Zero Conditional