The zero conditional describes things that are always true, like scientific facts or general truths about the world. It expresses what always happens when one thing happens.
Structure
- Condition (present tense)
- Result (present tense)
- If + condition + , + result
- Result + if + condition
- You can also replace “if” with “when” without changing the meaning.
Examples
- If you heat ice, it melts.
- People get thirsty if they don’t drink enough water.
- When the sun goes down, it gets dark.
References