The Zero Conditional: A2 Exercises

Every answer with the reason behind it. Read the explanation for the ones you got right as well — that is where you find out whether you were right for the right reason.

Multiple choice questions — answers

1. If you heat ice, it ___. → melts

Both halves of a zero conditional are in the present simple.

2. If I ___ too much coffee, I can't sleep. → drink

The if clause takes the present simple, never will.

3. Plants die if they ___ enough water. → don't get

A general truth uses the present simple in both clauses.

4. Which sentence is a zero conditional? → If it rains, the streets flood.

Both clauses in the present simple describe something always true.

5. If the light ___ red, stop. → turns

An instruction uses the present simple in the if clause.

6. Where does the comma go? → Only when the if clause comes first.

If the sentence starts with if, a comma separates the two clauses.

7. Water freezes if the temperature ___ below zero. → falls

A scientific fact takes the present simple throughout.

8. Which word can usually replace if in a zero conditional? → when

When works in place of if when the result is always true.

9. If you press this button, the machine ___. → starts

Both clauses stay in the present simple.

10. My dog barks if somebody ___ the doorbell. → rings

A regular reaction takes the present simple.

11. Which sentence is correct? → If you mix red and blue, you get purple.

Will never appears in a zero conditional.

12. If I ___ late, my boss says nothing. → arrive

A repeated situation takes the present simple.

13. Metal ___ if you heat it. → expands

A general scientific fact takes the present simple in both clauses.

14. If the shop ___ closed, use the machine outside. → is

An instruction uses the present simple after if.

15. What makes this a zero conditional? — If it snows, the school closes. → It describes what always happens.

The result is automatic every time the condition is met.

16. She gets a headache if she ___ enough sleep. → doesn't have

The negative present simple is used for a repeated condition.

17. If you don't water plants, they ___. → die

A general truth keeps both clauses in the present simple.

18. If you mix blue and yellow, you ___ green. → get

A fact that is always true takes the present simple.

19. Which is an instruction rather than a fact? → If the alarm sounds, leave the building.

The second clause is an imperative, which is common in instructions.

20. Ice ___ if you leave it in the sun. → melts

A general truth takes the present simple in both halves.

Fill-in-the-blank questions — answers

1. If you heat water to a hundred degrees, it ___. → boils

A scientific fact takes the present simple in both clauses.

2. If I ___ breakfast, I feel terrible by eleven. → skip

A personal habit uses the present simple after if.

3. Plants die if they ___ get enough light. → don't

The negative present simple expresses a repeated condition.

4. If the alarm sounds, ___ the building immediately. → leave

Instructions use an imperative in the result clause.

5. My phone ___ off if the battery gets too hot. → switches

An automatic reaction takes the present simple.

6. If you press this button, the door ___. → opens

Both halves stay in the present simple.

7. Metal expands ___ you heat it. → if

If and when are interchangeable when the result is always true.

8. If it ___ heavily, the road outside floods. → rains

The if clause takes the present simple, never will.

9. She always calls me if she ___ home late. → gets

A regular habit takes the present simple.

10. If you don't pay the bill, they ___ off the electricity. → cut

An automatic consequence takes the present simple.

11. Ice ___ if you leave it out of the freezer. → melts

A general truth uses the present simple in both clauses.

12. If the machine ___ making a noise, turn it off. → starts

An instruction uses the present simple after if.

13. I get a headache if I ___ at a screen for too long. → look

A personal pattern takes the present simple.

14. If you mix red and white, you ___ pink. → get

A fact that is always true takes the present simple.

15. The dog barks if somebody ___ at the gate. → arrives

A repeated reaction uses the present simple.

16. If a shop ___ open on Sundays, it is usually busy. → is

The if clause takes the present simple form of be.

17. Wood ___ if you put it in water. → floats

A scientific fact keeps both halves in the present simple.

18. If you ___ the red wire, the alarm goes off. → cut

An instruction or warning uses the present simple after if.

19. He ___ angry if you interrupt him. → gets

A predictable personal reaction takes the present simple.

20. If the temperature ___ below zero, the pipes freeze. → falls

Both clauses are present simple in a zero conditional.

Sentence structure: word ordering — answers

1. State a scientific fact with a comma after the if clause. → If you heat ice, it melts.

State a scientific fact with a comma after the if clause.

2. State the same kind of fact with no comma. → Water boils if you heat it enough.

State the same kind of fact with no comma.

3. Describe a personal pattern. → If I drink coffee late, I can't sleep.

Describe a personal pattern.

4. State a general truth about gardening. → Plants die if they get no water.

State a general truth about gardening.

5. Give a safety instruction. → If the alarm sounds, leave the building.

Give a safety instruction.

6. Describe an animal's automatic reaction. → My dog barks if somebody knocks.

Describe an animal's automatic reaction.

7. Explain how a mechanism works. → If you press this button, the door opens.

Explain how a mechanism works.

8. State a physical law using when instead of if. → Metal expands when you heat it.

State a physical law using when instead of if.

9. Describe a recurring local problem. → If it rains, the roads flood here.

Describe a recurring local problem.

10. Warn about somebody's predictable reaction. → She gets cross if you interrupt her.

Warn about somebody's predictable reaction.

11. Explain a fact about colour. → If you mix blue and yellow, you get green.

Explain a fact about colour.

12. Describe an automatic safety behaviour. → The lift stops if the power fails.

Describe an automatic safety behaviour.

13. Explain a protective feature. → If the machine overheats, it shuts down.

Explain a protective feature.

14. State a fact about a material. → Wood floats if you put it in water.

State a fact about a material.

15. Describe a personal consequence. → If I skip lunch, I feel awful later.

Describe a personal consequence.

16. Describe a business's standard response. → The shop closes if there is no power.

Describe a business's standard response.

17. Give an instruction about a warning signal. → If the light flashes, call the engineer.

Give an instruction about a warning signal.

18. State an everyday physical fact. → Ice melts if you leave it outside.

State an everyday physical fact.

19. Describe an automatic consequence of a missed payment. → If you don't pay, they send a reminder.

Describe an automatic consequence of a missed payment.

20. Praise somebody's reliable habit. → He always phones if he is delayed.

Praise somebody's reliable habit.