The Grammaring Guide to English Grammar with Exercises

Zero conditional

IF + PRESENT TENSE | PRESENT TENSE

IF + PAST TENSE | PAST TENSE

The zero conditional expresses that something is (or was) always true or that one action is (or was) always followed by another:

If you

heat

water to 100 degrees Celsius, it

boils

.

If John

is cursing

, it

means

that he

is

very angry.

If I

got

home late, my mom

scolded

me.

If she

was

sad, she just

stared

into the distance without saying a word.

In this type of conditional, we can use when instead of if:

If/When

John is cursing, it means that he is very angry.

Quotes:

If one cannot invent a really convincing lie, it is often better to stick to the truth. - Angela Thirkell

If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere. - Frank A. Clark

The trouble with the rat race is that even if you win, you are still a rat. - Lily Tomlin

If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything. - Mark Twain

If you don't know where you're going, you might never get there. - Yogi Berra

Related topics:

Present simple for general truths