Zero Conditional — Condicional Cero
Estructura
| If clause | Result clause |
|---|---|
| If + present simple | present simple |
| If you heat ice, | it melts. |
| If it rains, | the ground gets wet. |
Uso: hechos, verdades y causa-efecto directo
- No complex condition stated — just a fact: if X passes, Y passes.
- Scientific facts: If you heat water to 100°C, it boils.
- Generalizaciones: If I eat too much, I feel sick.
- Rutinas/preferencias: If I have free time, I read.
- Reglas: If you mix red and blue, you get purple.
Difference with First Conditional
| Zero Conditional | First Conditional |
|---|---|
| General fact, always true | Possible future situation |
| If + present, present | If + present, will |
| If it rains, the ground gets wet. | If it rains, I will stay home. |
| (Every time it rains) | (If it rains in the future) |
When = If (often interchangeable at zero)
- When you heat ice, it melts. = If you heat ice, it melts.
- When I'm tired, I go to bed early.
Order
- If first (comma): If it rains**,** the ground gets wet.
- Result first (no comma): The ground gets wet if it rains.