CONDITIONALS REAL WITH THE PRESENT (ZERO CONDITIONAL)

For all conditional sentences there are two parts. The conditional clause (‘if’ clause) and the consequence clause (main clause).

The present real conditional / conditional real with the present / zero conditional is formed with if + present simple tense for the conditional and the simple present for the consequence clause.

If I forget my homework, my teacher gets angry.

If I forget my homework (conditional / if clause),

my teacher gets angry (consequence clause / main clause).

The zero conditional is used to talk about things that always happen or things that happen the same way every time.

Because the situations happen they are ‘real’. The zero conditional is used to talk about facts and behavior which don’t change.

If I am bored, I read a book.

If he forgets where his keys are, he asks his wife.

The conditional clause can come first or second in a conditional sentence. If the conditional clause is first, a comma usually is put between the consequence and conditional clause. A comma usually isn’t needed when the consequence clause is first.

My teacher gets angry if I forget my homework.

If I forget my homework, my teacher gets angry.

Conditionals real with the present questions

  1. What do you do if you’re bored?
  2. Where do you go if you want to buy clothes?
  3. Who do you talk to if you have a problem?
  4. Where do you go if you want to read a book?
  5. How long does it take you to ask for help if you don’t know how to do something?
  6. If you can’t get a jar open, what do you do?
  7. If you go out to eat, what type of food do you eat?
  8. If a friend asks you for money, what do you tell them?
  9. If you call your parents, how long do you talk?
  10. If you go to the movies, do you buy popcorn and drinks? Why or why not?
  11. Who do you call if you’re lonely?
  12. What do you do if you’re stressed?
  13. If you’re in a bad mood, what do you do?
  14. If you have a cold, what medicine do you take?
  15. If you want to celebrate a special occasion, where do you go or what do you do?
  16. Who do you talk to if you need a second opinion on something?
  17. What do you do if it’s really hot outside?
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