S01: How to form and use the Zero Conditional.
How To Form The Zero Conditional:
The zero conditional is formed by using: if plus present, then present.
IF + SUBJECT + VERB IN PRESENT, THEN SUBJECT + VERB IN PRESENT
Notice it is possible to use the present continuous in this construction, however the present simple is most commonly used.
Examples:
If I wake up early. I study. When I arrive home, I take off my shoes. If I don't have any money, I go on diet. If I don't get here by five o'clock, don't wait for me. If I am being a bore, my friends tell me to shut up.
When to use the Zero Conditional:
We use the zero conditional for situations that are always or habitually true.
If it rains, I get wet. (always true) If I don't sleep well, I am bad tempered. (habitually true)
The zero conditional says that when a condition is fulfilled, the result clause is always, or habitually true.
How to make the zero conditional. OK. When plus present simple then present simple. For example: When I don't have any money, I don't have present simple, my father gives me money. Present simple. So, when I don't have any money, my father gives me money. This is a first conditional present... sorry, this is a zero conditional, present plus present, for things that are always true. We can also make a zero conditional in the past. When I didn't have any mothe... money, my father gave me money. So, when I didn't have any money, my father gave me money. Notice we could use here, my father used to give, or would give me money. And those are both zero conditionals. So, the zero conditional is for things that are always true, either in the present or the past. When it rains, I get wet. This is always true. When I run fast, I get hot, always true. When I was tired as a child, I fell asleep, always true in the past again. So there you go, that's the zero conditional. In the next video I'll talk to you about the first conditional, which is very similar, but subtly different. See you there.