Zero Conditionals – Conditional Sentences (English / ESL Video)

Synopsis of English / ESL Video

Teach your students zero conditionals (conditional sentences) using this exciting, fun & interactive animated ESL video for upper-intermediate level learners.

Title of English / ESL Video

Zero Conditionals:

– Conditional sentences / conditional clauses

– If clause + result clause / clauses of result

– Also known as:

– condition clause + consequence clause

– subordinate clause + main clause / other clause

– dependent clause + independent clause.

Summary of English Grammar: Zero Conditionals – Conditional Sentences

Approximate chronological order:

Rules and Explanation:

Function:

– To talk about things which are always true or things which always happen as a result of something else. We’re not talking about a specific event, but rather something which is generally true.

Specific Uses:

– Facts: If I mix hydrogen with oxygen, it turns into water.

– Elicitation from students.

– General truths: If you fly with budget airlines, the drinks are expensive.

– Routines and habits: Unless I’m late for work, I always catch the train.

– Preferences: When I stir fry vegetables, I prefer olive oil.

– Rules and laws: If you’re in class, don’t use your phone.

– Cause and effects: If you eat too much junk food, you can get fat.

– Superstitions: It’s bad luck if the groom sees the bride before the wedding.

– Proverbs: When it rains, it pours!

– 0 conditionals can also be used for specific situations:

– To give instructions: If Bill comes here again, tell him I’m not scared of him!

– To offer suggestions and advice: If you go to the beach, put on lots of sunscreen.

– To make requests: If you go past the groceries store, get a few things for me please.

Concept Checking Questions (CCQs)

– 0 conditionals don’t talk about the past, present or future. They talk about things which are always true.

Form:

Statements:

– If + present simple, + present simple

– If + I mix hydrogen with water, + it turns into water.

When / Unless:

– We can use when or unless to replace if in the if clause.

– Example 1: When + I stir fry vegetables, I + prefer olive oil.

– Example 2: Unless + I’m late for work, + I always catch the train.

Modal Verbs:

– Modal verbs are common in 0 conditionals and can be used in either the if the clause or the result clause.

– Example: If + you eat too much junk food, + you can get fat.

Imperatives:

– Imperatives are common in the result clause when we:

– describe rules and laws: If you’re in class, don’t use your phone.

– give instructions: If Bill comes here again, tell him I’m not scared of him!

– offer suggestions and advice: If you go to the beach, put on lots of sunscreen.

– make requests: If you go past the groceries store, get a few things for me please.

Present Continuous / Present Progressive Tense:

– Instead of using the present simple tense, we can use the present continuous / present progressive tense in either of the clauses.

– Example 1: If you go past the groceries store, get a few things for me please.

– Example 1: If you‘re going out, get a few things for me please. (Present continuous + present simple)

– Example 2: If you eat too much junk food, you can get fat.

– Example 2: If you’re overweight, you‘re probably eating too much junk food. (Present simple + present continuous)

Present Perfect Simple Tense:

– We can also use the present perfect simple tense in either clause.

– Example 1: Unless I’m late for work, I always catch the train.

– Example 1: If you‘ve caught the train during peak hour, you know how packed the trains are. (Present perfect + present simple)

– Example 2: If you go to the beach, put on lots of sunscreen.

– Example 2: If you‘ve been to the beach, you‘ve probably been sunburned before. (Present perfect + present perfect)

Summary of Functions:

– To talk about things which are always true or things which happen as a result of something:

– Facts  /  – General truths.  /  – Routines . /  – Habits.  /  – Preferences.  /  – Rules and laws.  /  – Cause and effects.  /  – Superstitions .  /  – Proverbs.  /  –

Specific situations: /   – Instructions. /  – Suggestions and advice. /  – Requests.