Zero conditional – grammar chart

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We use the zero conditional to talk about general truths or results that always
happen if a condition is present. We are talking in general, not about one particular
situation.

 If the milk smells bad, I don’t drink it.

 If water reaches 100 degrees, it boils. 
 If I’ve drunk, I never drive. 
 If people are talking all the time, I can’t concentrate. 

We can put the main clause at the beginning. Then we don’t use a comma between
the two clauses.

 I never go to bed late if I have to get up early. 

We can usually replace the if in this conditional with when without changing the
meaning.

 Dogs can attack you when you are scared. 

 When the weather is bad, people don’t go shopping. 

First conditional – grammar chart

 

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The first conditional is used to talk about things that might happen in the future if a
condition is present. We don’t know if those things will happen or not, but they are a
real possibility.

 If you study, you‘ll pass. 

 If he doesn’t call you, tell me immediately.
 If you’ve come to class, the exam is going to be easy.
  If you help me, I’ll have finished by the end of the month.

We don’t use will in the if clause.

 I’ll help you if you need me (NOT if you will need me)

unless = if (not)
 
We can also use unless in conditional sentences to mean if … (not)

 I won’t go on holiday unless I save some money.

 = I won’t go on holiday if I don’t save some money.

in case
 
We use in case to talk about the possibility of something happening. After in
case we also use present to talk about the future.

 I’ll take my umbrella in case it rains. (=maybe it will rain)

But the meaning of in case is different from if. Compare:

 I’ll take my umbrella in case it rains. (=I’ll take my umbrella if it rains and I’ll

take my umbrella if it doesn’t rain)
  I’ll take my umbrella if it rains. (=I’ll take my umbrella if it rains but I won’t
take my umbrella if it doesn’t rain)

First vs zero conditional

 
We use the first conditional to talk about a particular situation, whereas we use the
zero conditional to talk about what happens in general.

 If you don’t use oil, it tastes awful. (=I’m talking about what happens every

time.)
 If you don’t use oil, it will taste awful. (=I’m talking about this particular
occasion.)

 
Future time clauses – grammar chart
 

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When we are talking about the future we use the present, (NOT will) after the
expressions when, as soon as, until, once, before, after, while. After these
expressions we can use any form of present (present simple, present continuous,
present perfect) to talk about the future.

 I’ll go to bed as soon as I finish my homework. 

 When I am 65, I will retire. 
 I won’t leave until you arrive. 

As it happens with the conditional sentences, we use a comma when we begin the
sentence with a time clause. But we don’t use a comma if we put the time clause at
the end of the sentence.

 When I am 65, I will retire. 

 I will retire when I am 65. 
 

With present perfect

 
We can often use the present perfect after the time word. The meaning is similar to
using the present simple, but with the present perfect we emphasise that the action
will be completed.

 I’ll go to bed as soon as I have finished my homework. 

 I won’t leave until you have arrived. 
Exercise 2
Choose the correct option. In two of the sentences, there are two possible correct options.
Page 1 of 2

1We can leave when you __________ dinner. Choose TWO correct options
a.will finish
b.have finished
c.finish
2When you cross that door, I __________ my homework.
a.will have finished
b.finish
c.have finished
3When you arrive, we __________ in the garden.
a.play
b.are playing
c.will be playing
4I’ll send you the composition as soon as I __________ it. Choose TWO correct options
a.will finish
b.finish
c.have finished
5If you feel tired tomorrow, you __________ enough sleep.
a.won't have had
b.haven't had
c.aren't going to have

6You can't watch TV until you __________ your beans.

a.have eaten
b.will eat
c.will have eaten
7You shouldn't sign the contract unless you __________ it carefully.
a.will have read
b.have read
c.will read
8When you __________ the test, I will be praying for you.
a.start
b.will start
c.are going to start
9I'll be there for you if you __________ me.
a.need
b.will need
c.will be needing
10If he __________ when you arrive, please be quiet.
a.will sleep
b.is sleeping
c.will be sleeping

Exercise 3
Complete these sentences with the correct forms of the verbs in brackets. Do NOT use
contracted forms

1Next year, when I   (work) here for two years, I’ll ask for a rise.
2As soon as I hear from him, I   (let) you know.
3I've studied a lot for this exam. If I fail it, I   (study) a lot for nothing.
4I’ll be ready as soon as you   (be).
5I won’t stop asking you to be my wife until you   (be) my wife.
6Once the summer   (be) here, the garden will look so beautiful!
7If he   (have) a meeting when you   (arrive), wait outside.
8A: I'm sorry, but George is at a meeting. B. No problem, I   (wait) here until
the meeting   (be) over.
9You shouldn't eat this cheese if you   (try) to lose weight.
10I'm sure your sister   (understand) if you don't go to the party.
 Exercise 2
Choose the correct option. In two of the sentences, there are two possible correct options.
 

You have completed this test.

Correct answers: 0/10.

Your score is 0%.

Check your answers:

 

1We can leave when you __________ dinner. Choose TWO correct options

 a. will finish
 b. have finishedcorrect
 c. finishcorrect

This question was not answered

➪ We can often use the present perfect after the time word in a future time clause.
➪ The meaning is similar to using the present simple, but with the present perfect we
emphasise that the action will be completed.

2When you cross that door, I __________ my homework.

 a. will have finishedcorrect

 b. finish
 c. have finished

This question was not answered

➪ As it happens with the first conditional, in future time clauses we use the present tense in
the time clause, and any type of future in the main clause.
➪ In this case, we use the future perfect because we are talking about an action that will be
completed before certain time in the future.

3When you arrive, we __________ in the garden.

 a. play
 b. are playing
 c. will be playingcorrect

This question was not answered

 ➪ As it happens with the first conditional, in future time clauses we use the present tense in
the time clause, and any type of future in the main clause.
➪ In this case, we use the future continuous because we are talking about an action that
will be in progress at a certain time in the future.

4I’ll send you the composition as soon as I __________ it. Choose TWO correct options

 a. will finish
 b. finishcorrect
 c. have finishedcorrect

This question was not answered

➪ We can often use the present perfect after the time word in a future time clause.
➪ The meaning is similar to using the present simple, but with the present perfect we
emphasise that the action will be completed.

5If you feel tired tomorrow, you __________ enough sleep.

 a. won't have hadcorrect

 b. haven't had
 c. aren't going to have

This question was not answered

➪ In a first conditional sentence, we use the present tense in the time clause, and any type
of future in the main clause.
➪ In this case, we use the future perfect because we are talking about an action that will be
completed before certain time in the future.

6You can't watch TV until you __________ your beans.

 a. have eatencorrect
 b. will eat
 c. will have eaten

This question was not answered

➪ We can often use the present perfect after the time word in a future time clause.
➪ The meaning is similar to using the present simple, but with the present perfect we
emphasise that the action will be completed.

7You shouldn't sign the contract unless you __________ it carefully.

 a. will have read

 b. have readcorrect
 c. will read

This question was not answered

 ➪ This is a first conditional sentence in which we use unless instead of if.
➪ In a first conditional sentence, we use any type of present in the if clause, and future,
imperative or a modal verb in the main clause.
➪ In this case, we use the present perfect in the main clause, although we could also use
the present simple with little difference in meaning.

8When you __________ the test, I will be praying for you.

 a. startcorrect
 b. will start
 c. are going to start

This question was not answered

➪ As it happens with the first conditional, in future time clauses we use the present tense in
the time clause, and any type of future in the main clause.
➪ After when, as soon as, until, once, before, after, while we use the present to talk
about the future.

9I'll be there for you if you __________ me.

 a. needcorrect
 b. will need
 c. will be needing

This question was not answered

➪ In a first conditional sentence, we use the present in the if clause to talk about the

future.

10If he __________ when you arrive, please be quiet.

 a. will sleep
 b. is sleepingcorrect
 c. will be sleeping

This question was not answered

➪ This is a first conditional sentence, and in the if clause of a conditional sentence we can

use any type of present.
➪ We use the present continuous in this case because we are talking about an action in
progress.
Exercise 3
Complete these sentences with the correct forms of the verbs in brackets. Do NOT use
contracted forms
 

You have completed this test.

Correct answers: 0/10.

Your score is 0%.

Check your answers:

 

1Next year, when I [no answer]   (work) here for two years, I’ll ask for a rise.
Correct answer: have worked/have been working
➪ After when, as soon as, until, once, before, after, while we use the present
(simple, continuous or perfect) to talk about the future.
➪ In this sentence, we need to use the present perfect because we are talking
about duration with for.

2As soon as I hear from him, I [no answer]   (let) you know.
Correct answer: will let
➪ As it happens with the first conditional, in future time clauses, we use the present
tense in the time clause, and future in the main clause.

3I've studied a lot for this exam. If I fail it, I [no answer]   (study) a lot for nothing.
Correct answer: will have studied
➪ This is a first conditional sentence. We use the present tense in the if clause,
and any type of future in the main clause.
➪ In this sentence, we use the future perfect because we are talking about an
action that will be completed at a certain time in the future.

4I’ll be ready as soon as you [no answer]   (be).

Correct answer: are
➪ As it happens with the first conditional, in future time clauses, we use the present
tense in the future time clause, and future in the main clause.

5I won’t stop asking you to be my wife until you [no answer]   (be) my wife.
Correct answer: are
➪ After when, as soon as, until, once, before, after, while we use the present
(simple, continuous or perfect) to talk about the future.

6Once the summer [no answer]   (be) here, the garden will look so beautiful!
Correct answer: is
➪ After when, as soon as, until, once, before, after, while we use the present
(simple, continuous or perfect) to talk about the future.

7If he [no answer]   (have) a meeting when you [no answer]   (arrive), wait outside.
Correct answer: is having / arrive
➪ In the first conditional, or in future time clauses, we use present simple,
continuous or perfect in the if clause or the future time clause, and future,
imperative, or a modal verb in the main clause.
➪ This is a first conditional sentence, with a future time sentence in it. So in
the if clause, and in the future time clause, we use the present (continuous and
simple), and we use an imperative in the main clause.

8A: I'm sorry, but George is at a meeting. B. No problem, I [no answer]   (wait) here until

the meeting [no answer]   (be) over.

Correct answer: will wait / is
➪ As it happens with the first conditional, in future time clauses, we use the present
tense in the time clause, and future in the main clause.

9You shouldn't eat this cheese if you [no answer]   (try) to lose weight.
Correct answer: are trying
➪ This is a first conditional sentence, and in the if clause of a conditional sentence
we can use any type of present.
➪ We use the present continuous in this case because we are talking about an
action in progress.

10I'm sure your sister [no answer]   (understand) if you don't go to the party.
Correct answer: will understand
➪ In a first conditional sentence, we use a future tense in the main clause. In this
case, we use will because it's a prediction.