How to form the zero conditional
| If/when you heat water to 100 degrees, it boils. |
If/when you don't heat water to 100 degrees, it doesn't boil. |
What happens if/when you heat water to 100 degrees? |
When to use the zero conditional
We use the zero conditional to express that a particular condition always has the same result. We are saying that something is always true or is a fact:
| [condition] |
[result] |
| If we don’t drink, . . . |
we get thirsty. |
| If you heat water, . . . |
it evaporates. |
| they will get |
If people eat too much, they get fat.
|
We use the present simple in both clauses of a zero conditional. We are saying that the condition is always true. |
| when it will reach |
Water boils when it reaches 100°C. |
|
If/when you don’t exercise, you get fat. |
If and when have the same meaning here. We can also use whenever. |
