Argentine Association of Technical-Scientific Translators

Asociación Argentina de Traductores Técnico-Científicos

Sede: Instituto Superior del Traductorado – Calle 6 No. 843 (48 & 49) – La Plata – BA – Argentina
www.traductorado.edu.ar
LESSON 1
THE TRANSLATION OF ZERO AND FIRST
CONDITIONALS

Conditional sentences consist of a main clause and a conditional clause,

aka an IF-clause.
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TRANSLATION
TASK 1

Fig. 1: The conditional sentence.

1. Read Lesson 1.
The role of the IF-clause in a conditional sentence is that of a subordinate 2. Familiarise yourself
structure which highlights information relative to the main clause. with the features of Zero

In Figure 1, they call us is the condition expressed by the IF-clause; and First Conditionals.
whereas we will go is the predication that states the result of such a 3. Consider the
condition. examples and their

The IF-clause functions adverbially, stating the circumstances under meaning.

which the predication gains validity. 4. Note the differences
in the English forms of
The order of the clauses will not change the meaning of the conditional
sentence. expression.
5. Finally, do the
Spanish translation
practice exercises in the
following link:

Fig. 2: The inversion of clauses. TRANSLATION

PRACTICE
Nevertheless, a mandatory comma is to be placed between the clauses
when the IF-clause precedes the main clause.
To pass onto the next
The nature of the IF-clause in the example is that of an open condition
which means that what is said in the condition is ‘possible’: it is possible lesson, the translation
that they call us. The possibility may be interpreted as referring either to practice should be
present time (i.e. they may call us now) or to future time (i.e. they may call emailed in a Word file to
us later).
aatt@traductorado.edu.ar.
Conditional sentences can be grouped into different types according to
the factuality and time of their IF-clause.
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Zero Conditionals

Things that are generally true, especially laws of nature, statements with a moral content, and human
rules and principles which are highly based on fact, may be the object of a type of conditional sentence
that is called Zero Conditional.

We use the Zero Conditional to state the circumstances of fulfilment of such facts.

For example,

1. Water evaporates if you boil it.

2. If the virus is exposed to sunlight, it dies.
3. If the neighbours make noise at night, I cannot sleep well.

Compare,

Fig. 3: Conversation 1.

Note that the first conditional sentence is about a particular ditch. The second is about ditches in
general and states a general fact: people get hurt when they fall in a ditch. So B says, you hurt yourself
instead of you will hurt yourself. In this kind of conditional, if has almost the same meaning as when,
or whenever.

Zero Conditionals are often found among scientific statements about the causes and effects of certain
actions, especially with a passive verb:

4. If the virus is isolated, its properties change.

5. If precautions are taken, the incidence rate decreases.
6. If the samples are mixed, the compound becomes more corrosive.

Even though these statements are general, it is also correct to say,

7. If the virus is isolated, its properties will change.

8. If precautions are taken, the incidence rate will decrease.
9. If the samples are mixed, the compound will become more corrosive.

In such statements, either the present or future form may be used, and they are still Zero Conditionals
as they express facts or general actions, rather than predictions.

Nevertheless, in sentences about habitual actions, which tell us what someone generally does, we
do not normally use the form will.

10. If he has any spare time, he usually does some gardening.

(Not If he has any spare time, he will usually do some gardening.)
11. If I cannot sleep, I always read something in bed.
(Not If I cannot sleep, I will always read something in bed.)

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Conclusively, Zero Conditionals are employed in the expression of habitual or general actions as well
as in the communication of facts and truths.

The structure of the Zero Conditionals is typically the following:

Fig. 4: Zero Conditional Structure Chart.

First Conditional

We use the first conditional when we talk about lower levels of factuality in the condition. These include
present or future situations we believe are real or possible.

12. If it is sunny tomorrow, we'll go for a walk.

13. We will defeat the pandemic if we take care of ourselves and others.
14. If I have some spare time, I will do it.
15. The team will win if they play well.

First conditionals are appropriate to make promises or offers.

Fig. 5: Conversation 2.

The IF-clause (If I see him) has the same tense as a Zero conditional; but the main clause (I will give
it to him) has the future simple tense. Note that when we offer to do something, we do not use shall
but will. In speech, of course, the short form (‘ll) is used most of the time.

In conditional sentences that express general predictions, we use will in the main clause.

16. If it rains, the match will not take place.

In the example above, the speaker has a relative certainty or believes that it will rain.

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Yet, we cannot always say that something will happen. We sometimes want to say that it may or might
happen.

17. If it rains, the match may not take place.

18. If it rains, the match might not take place.

The use of the modal verb may or might in the main clause suggests that there is some doubt whether
the main verb action will be achieved.

Additionally, we may also use must, ought to, should, can (permission), may (permission), and need
not.

19. If you finish it, you must keep it.

20. If you finish it, you ought to keep it.
21. If you finish it, you should keep it.
22. If you finish it, you can keep it.
23. If you finish it, you may keep it.
24. If you finish it, you need not keep it.

Nevertheless, can (ability) becomes will be able to.

25. If you finish it, you will be able to keep it.

To sum up, the IF-clause always uses the present simple tense; and the main clause
uses will, can, should, must, ought to, need to, may, or might + the infinitive form of a verb.

In first conditional sentences, the structure is usually:

Fig. 6: First Conditional Structure Chart.

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General Considerations

In the IF-clause, we can either use some (as well as someone, somebody, somewhere, someplace,
something) or any (as well as anyone, anybody, anywhere, anyplace, anything).

Fig. 7: ‘Some’ and ‘any’ in conditional sentences.

The conditional construction does not normally use will in the IF-clause, except when will expresses
willingness, as in requests.

Consider,

Fig. 9: Conversation 3.

Notice that B says you’ll take, and not you take. The use of will (unstressed) shows that the IF-clause
is a polite suggestion or request.

Similarly, the following IF-clauses, although they are not requests, use will for the sake of politeness.

26. If you’ll excuse me, I have some work to do.

27. If you’ll forgive my saying so, you’re wrong about it.
28. If you’ll pardon my asking, where do you come from?

Now consider,

Fig. 10: Conversation 4.

Look at the two uses of will in the last two sentences in Conversation 4.

The first one (It will teach her a lesson) is a future tense form and is spoken with a falling pitch or
intonation.

But the second one (If she will play with the dog) has no future meaning; the pitch must rise on the
word will; and emphasis should be placed on it. This use of will in this IF-clause indicates persistence.

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Consider,

Fig. 11: Conversation 5.

Notice the use of should in the last sentence in Conversation 5. The IF-clause makes use of should
to indicate that the condition, though possible, is unlikely to be fulfilled.

In other words, A knows that B loves it and will certainly keep it even if her husband may not like it.

Compare,

29. I’ll gladly exchange it for you if you change your mind. (= I don’t know whether you will or not change
your mind.)
30. I’ll gladly exchange it for you if you should change your mind. (= It seems unlikely that you will
change your mind.)

Alternative Connectors

Although if is the most popular connector in conditional sentences, it is also common to use as long
as, so long as, provided (that), providing (that), on condition (that), only if, or in case.

31. We will go as long as you come with us.

32. We will go so long as you come with us.
33. We will go provided (that) you come with us.
34. We will go providing (that) you come with us.
35. We will go on condition (that) you come with us.
36. We will go only if you come with us.
37. We will go in case you come with us.

Unless and even if are also used in the First Conditionals. Note that the meanings are different as the
connector changes.

We use unless to mean ‘except if’, and we use even if to mean ‘either if or if not’.

38. He does not tell jokes unless he is asked to. (= He does not tell jokes except if he is asked to.)
39. He never tells jokes even if he is asked to. (= He never tells jokes either if he is or if he is not asked.)

Unless may also be followed by should:

40. I will not intervene unless they should ask me to.

Even if does not usually need the addition of should, but should may be used in the condition to
indicate a very unlikely action.

Compare,

41. He’s probably not coming. But even if he joins us, there won’t be enough players for a match.
42. He’s not coming. But even if he should join us, there won’t be enough players for a match.
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