If a condition is always true, we use the zero conditional. The zero conditional uses "if" plus the present simple tense in both clauses. Some examples of zero conditional sentences include:
- If he gets there before me, ask him to wait.
- When you fly a budget airline, you have to pay for your drinks and snacks.
- Unless you need more space, a small car is big enough for one person.
"Unless" has the same meaning as "if not" in the zero conditional. We are describing general truths, not specific events.
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An explanation of English grammar: zero conditional
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If a condition is always true, we use the zero conditional. The zero conditional uses "if" plus the present simple tense in both clauses. Some examples of zero conditional sentences include:
- If he gets there before me, ask him to wait.
- When you fly a budget airline, you have to pay for your drinks and snacks.
- Unless you need more space, a small car is big enough for one person.
"Unless" has the same meaning as "if not" in the zero conditional. We are describing general truths, not specific events.
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If a condition is always true, we use the zero conditional. The zero conditional uses "if" plus the present simple tense in both clauses. Some examples of zero conditional sentences include:
- If he gets there before me, ask him to wait.
- When you fly a budget airline, you have to pay for your drinks and snacks.
- Unless you need more space, a small car is big enough for one person.
"Unless" has the same meaning as "if not" in the zero conditional. We are describing general truths, not specific events.
Copyright:
Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
e ase tle tera caa|t|aaal ta tal| a|aat facts ar s|taat|aas wl|cl are alwas trae. IfWhen0nless plus a piesent foim PL0S piesent simple oi impeiative
-If he gets theie befoie me, ask him to wait. -When you fly buuget aiiline, you have to pay foi youi uiinks anu snacks. -0nless you neeu moie space, a small cai is big enough foi one peison.
Note that we aie not talking about a specific event but something which is geneially tiue.
In the conuition clause, we can use a vaiiety of piesent foims. In the iesult clause, theie can only be the piesent simple oi impeiative.
-If you visit Lonuon, go on the Lonuon Eye. -If unemployment is iising, people tenu to stay in theii piesent jobs. -If youve uone that, go anu have a coffee. -When you go on holiuay, take plenty of sun cieam. Itll be veiy hot. -When Im concentiating, please uont make so much noise. -When Ive finisheu an aiticle, I always ask Kate to ieau it thiough.
Notice that unless means the same as if not. -0nless he asks you politely, iefuse to uo any moie woik on the pioject. -0nless piices aie iising, its not a goou investment. 0nless youve been theie youiself, you uont ieally unueistanu how fantastic it is