Zero Conditional
Conditionals are structures which we use
when talking about possible actions and their results. The zero conditional is a form which expresses what always happens if or
when a certain action takes place.
Conditional sentences are usually made up of two parts, a conditional clause
and a main clause. The conditional clause is the 'if' part of the sentence and
the main clause is the result, what happens.
This the basic structure of zero conditionals.
CONDITIONAL CLAUSE
|
MAIN CLAUSE
|
If / when
|
present simple
|
present simple
|
If
When
|
you heat ice,
she's not in,
you don't water plants,
|
it melts.
her machine takes a message.
they die.
|
The two clauses can come in any order. In written English if the conditional
clause comes first, you put a comma between it and the main clause.
You don't use a comma if the main clause comes first. Look carefully and you
can see that the previous two sentences contain two examples of the zero
conditional!
The first conditional
A conditional is used to talk about a
possible or imaginary situation (the condition) and the consequences(or the
result) of it.
The first conditional - meaning
We use the first conditional to talk about
something that will happen (the result), if a particular condition (which is
likely to happen) is met.
“If Tim works in the stockroom, he’ll get an interview”
Because the manager is asking Tim to work in the
stockroom, it's likely that Tim will do it and that's why we use the first
conditional here.
In order to get an interview, Tim has to work in the
stockroom.
If you do this for me, you'll have a chance of
promotion.
If Tim works in the stock room, he will get an
interview.
If Tim doesn't work in the stock room, he won't get an
interview.
So, the meaning is that if the condition is met (and
it's more than 50% likely to happen) then the result will happen.
The first conditional - form
The first conditional is made up of the condition (the
'if' part of the sentence) and the consequence or the result.
If + present simple, will + base verb
If Tim works in the stockroom, he will get an
interview.
If you do this for me, you'll have a chance of
promotion.
The first conditional - Modal verbs will, may and
might:
When we use will in the result clause of the first
conditional, we are certain that something will happen. It is definite. But we can use may or might instead of will. This
means that the consequence is not certain. It is possible, but not definite.
I'm not feeling very well. If it rains tomorrow, I'll
stay at home.
I'm feeling fine and I've got a car. If it rains
tomorrow, I might stay at home, or I may go shopping. I'll decide tomorrow.
Note: In the first conditional, there is no difference
in meaning between may and might.
The first conditional - If and if not:
In conditional sentences, you don't always use 'if' or
'if not'. You can use 'provided that' or 'so long as' instead of 'if'.
For example:
If you put down the gun, I won't call the police. =
So long as you put down the gun, I won't call the
police. =
Provided that you put down the gun I won't call the
police. =
(Provided that is more formal than if. )
You can use 'unless' instead of 'if not'.
For example:
If you don't put the gun down, I'll call the police. =
Unless you put the gun down, I'll call the police.
Vocabulary:
to look smart or to be well turned out: to wear good
clothes and to have tidy hair
a stockroom (n): the place where a shop keeps the
products that are not on display
no guarantees: no definite promises, nothing is certain
...
file/lodge/submit a complaint (=complain officially to someone)
She went to the
city council and lodged a complaint.
tintorería
sustantivo
dry
cleaner's
dryer, también drier /ˈdraɪə/
UK US sustantivo
1
secador (de pelo)
2
secadora
[para la ropa]
I’d demand that he paid the bill.
re‧fund [countable]
1 an
amount of money that is given back to you if you are not satisfied with the
goods or services that you have paid for:
They refused to
give me a refund.
Return your
purchase within 14 days for a full refund.
You should go down
there and demand a refund.
Complain to sb about sth
Ask for help if necessary.
Ask sb sth.
Expiry date
avena
sustantivo
1
(cereal)
oats [plural]
2
(harina)
oatmeal
