Mixed Conditionals and Hypotheticals

Talk the Talk: (Conversational) Mastering Conversational English C1 Advance 1 Mixed Conditionals and Hypotheticals

ZERO CONDITIONAL

The zero conditional is used to express general truths, scientific facts, or situations that are always true under certain conditions. It deals with real situations where the outcome is guaranteed if the condition is met.

Structure (Formula):

  • If/When + Present Simple, Present Simple
Listen and Repeat
ORDERIF/WHENPresent Simple,Present Simple
1.IFyou heat water to 100°C,it boils.
2.WHENyou mix red and blue,you get purple.
3.IFyou touch fire,it burns.
4.WHENthe sun rises,it gets brighter.
5.IFyou press this button,the light turns on.
6.WHENit rains,the grass gets wet.
7.IFyou don’t water plants,they die.
8.WHENyou don’t exercise,you don’t feel energetic.
9.IFmetal doesn’t rust,it isn’t exposed to air and moisture.
10.WHENyou don’t study,you don’t learn new things.
11.IF the sun doesn’t shine,the temperature doesn’t rise.
12.WHENfood isn’t stored properly,it spoils quickly.

Function:

The zero conditional serves to illustrate cause-and-effect relationships that are universally applicable. It conveys inevitable outcomes when certain conditions are fulfilled, often emphasizing habitual actions or factual statements.

EXAMPLES:

Instructions:
Read the small paragraph. Answer the questions using the ZERO conditional.

When water reaches 100°C, it boils. This is a well-known fact that applies universally. In scientific experiments, for instance, when researchers heat water to this temperature, it always transitions to a gaseous state. It doesn’t matter what kind of container is used or how quickly the water is heated; the result is always the same under normal atmospheric pressure.

If you heat the water to 100°C, what happens next?

If the pressure increases, what changes about the boiling point of water?

If people don’t get enough sleep, their cognitive functions deteriorate. Studies show that the brain relies on sufficient rest to process information and function effectively. When someone regularly deprives themselves of sleep, they struggle to concentrate, make decisions, and remember things. This is true regardless of the individual’s profession or lifestyle.

If you don’t get enough rest tonight, how do you feel at work tomorrow?

If a person continues to lose sleep over time, what is likely to happen to their mental health?

When metal is exposed to moisture, it rusts. Engineers and builders are aware of this fact, so they take precautions to protect metal structures. Without protective coatings or treatments, metals like iron and steel begin to corrode. This can compromise the structural integrity of buildings and machinery if not properly addressed.

If you don’t apply a protective coating to the metal, what happens over time?

If the moisture increases due to humidity, how does that affect the rusting process?

ANSWERS:

  1. If you heat the water to 100°C, it boils.
    If the pressure increases, the boiling point rises.
  1. If you don’t get enough rest tonight, you feel tired tomorrow at work.
    If a person continues to lose sleep over time, their mental health deteriorates.
  1. If you don’t apply a protective coating to the metal, it rusts over time.
    If the moisture increases due to humidity, the metal rusts faster.

AFFIRMATIVE FORM ZERO CONDITIONAL EXERCISE

INSTRUCTIONS:
RE-WRITE the affirmative sentences pay special attention to the verbs.
EXAMPLE:
1. If you (heat) water, it (boil).
If you heat water, it boils

NEGATIVE FORM ZERO CONDITIONAL EXERCISE

INSTRUCTIONS:
RE-WRITE the negative sentences pay special attention to the verbs.
EXAMPLE:
1. If you (not water) plants, they (not grow).
If you don't water plants, they don't grow

SCRAMBLED SENTENCE ZERO CONDITIONAL EXERCISE

INSTRUCTIONS:
put the sentences in order use the FORMULA GIVEN
If/When + Simple Present + Simple present
EXAMPLE:
1. hurry / if / they /don't / miss / they / the bus
If they don’t hurry, they miss the bus

 

MATCHING EXERCISE ZERO CONDITIONAL

Welcome to your Matching Exercise Zero Conditional

1. If a country invests in sustainable energy sources,

2. When employees don’t receive adequate feedback,

3. If you ignore early symptoms of a medical condition,

4. When technology advances at a rapid pace,

5. If individuals do not prioritize mental health,

6. When societies neglect environmental regulations,

7. If students fail to develop critical thinking skills,

8. When businesses fail to adapt to market changes,

9. If people avoid conflict resolution,

10. When governments do not address income inequality,

TRUE OR FALSE EXERCISE ZERO CONDITIONAL

INSTRUCTIONS:
Test your knowledge answer the following questions
TRUE
FALSE

1. If you heat ice, it melts.

2. When people do not eat, they never feel hungry.

3. If you press the power button on your phone, it turns off.

4. When the sun sets, the sky becomes darker.

5. If you don’t water a cactus, it dies immediately.

6. If a metal object touches water, it always rusts instantly.

7. When people don’t exercise regularly, their health deteriorates over time.

8. If you don’t refrigerate milk, it spoils quickly.

9. When glass is dropped, it doesn’t break.

10. If you heat water to 100°C, it evaporates instantly.

11. If plants get enough sunlight, they produce food through photosynthesis.

12. When people work in a team, they always succeed without any issues.

13. If you don’t practice a skill regularly, you lose proficiency over time.

14. When salt is mixed with water, it does not dissolve.

15. If a car’s engine overheats, it stops functioning properly.

16. When animals are not fed, they eventually starve.

17. If you do not charge your phone, the battery lasts indefinitely.

18. When the seasons change, the temperature stays exactly the same.

19. If you expose your skin to too much sun without protection, it burns.

20. When a fire has no oxygen, it extinguishes.

Click here for a Multiple Choice Zero Conditional Exercise

Previous Lesson
Back to Lesson
Next Topic
Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12