Zero Conditional Example Sentences

If you’re teaching the zero conditional form, you’re going to need plenty of examples. In my experience, students don’t fully understand conditionals until they’ve seen lots of example sentences. Below, I’ve put together a list of zero conditional example sentences together with simple explanations to help you understand and teach this grammar structure.

Zero Conditional Sentences

The zero conditional is used to express facts and general truths. In other words, it is used to talk about things that are always true or things that generally happen whenever a particular condition is met. For example, the sentence “If water reaches 100 degrees Celsius, it boils.” expresses a fact. Whenever the condition is met, the same result occurs.

Zero conditional sentences are made up of two parts. The first part is the condition and is usually formed with if + present simple. The second part is the result and is also formed using the present simple. So, in the sentence “If water reaches 100 degrees Celsius, it boils,” the condition is “if water reaches 100 degrees Celsius” and the result is “it boils.”

Zero Conditional Example Sentences

Below are 30 zero conditional example sentences. After each example, you’ll find a short explanation showing why it is a zero conditional sentence and whether it expresses a fact or a general truth.

1. If water reaches 100 degrees Celsius, it boils.
   Fact: Water always boils when it reaches this temperature.
2. If you eat a lot, you put on weight.
   General truth: People typically gain weight if they regularly eat too much.
3. If you don’t sleep, you get tired.
   General truth: People become tired when they do not get enough sleep.
4. If it doesn’t rain, plants don’t grow.
   General truth: Plants need water in order to grow.
5. If it rains, the ground gets wet.
   Fact: Rain causes the ground to become wet.
6. If the dog barks, it scares the cat.
   General truth: The cat is usually frightened when the dog barks.
7. If people exercise, they feel better.
   General truth: Regular exercise generally improves how people feel.
8. If you mix blue and yellow, you get green.
   Fact: Mixing blue and yellow always produces green.
9. If you don’t eat, you get hungry.
   General truth: People become hungry when they do not eat.
10. When you take a test, you need a pen.
    General truth: A pen is usually needed when taking a written test.
11. When students arrive late, teachers are not happy.
    General truth: Teachers generally want their students to be on time for class.
12. If you don’t drink water, you get thirsty.
    General truth: People become thirsty when they do not drink enough water.
13. When people get angry, they don’t think clearly.
    General truth: Anger often affects a person’s judgment.
14. When you bring your phone to class, it needs to be on silent.
    General truth: Phones are generally expected to be silent in class.
15. If you leave food out too long, it goes bad.
    General truth: Food spoils when it is not stored properly.
16. The volume increases if you push the button.
    Fact: Pressing the button always increases the volume.
17. The door automatically opens if you stand near it.
    Fact: The door is designed to open whenever someone stands nearby.
18. The computer turns off if you disconnect the battery.
    Fact: Disconnecting the battery causes the computer to lose power.
19. If you don’t water a plant, it dies.
    General truth: Plants need water to survive.
20. If you leave ice in the sun, it melts.
    Fact: Ice always melts when exposed to enough heat.
21. If employees feel appreciated, they work harder.
    General truth: People often work harder when they feel valued.
22. If you put water in the freezer, it freezes.
    Fact: Water freezes when it is cooled to its freezing point.
23. When the temperature drops below 0°C, water freezes.
    Fact: Water freezes at temperatures below its freezing point.
24. If you touch fire, it hurts.
    General truth: Touching a hot fire causes pain.
25. If you drop a glass, it breaks.
    General truth: Glass usually breaks when it is dropped.
26. If you stay up late, you feel tired the next day.
    General truth: Going to bed late usually causes tiredness the following day.
27. People pay more taxes when they earn more money.
    General truth: Higher incomes generally result in higher taxes.
28. When winter arrives, many birds fly south.
    General truth: Many birds migrate south during the winter months.
29. Dogs bark when they are hungry.
    General truth: Hungry dogs often bark to get attention.
30. People get scared when it is dark outside.
    General truth: Darkness commonly causes people to feel afraid or uneasy.

Zero Conditional Example Sentences PDF

Zero Conditional Questions

When I’m teaching the zero conditional form, after students understand how to make zero conditional sentences, I usually move on to questions. This gives students a chance to ask and answer using the zero conditional form and helps them use the grammar structure in more natural conversations. Below are 30 questions designed to elicit a zero conditional answer. In other words, students should answer each question with a zero conditional sentence that expresses a fact or general truth.

1. What happens if water reaches 100 degrees Celsius?
   Possible Answers: If water reaches 100 degrees Celsius, it boils. Water boils if it reaches 100 degrees Celsius. When water reaches 100 degrees Celsius, it boils.
2. What happens if you eat a lot?
   Possible Answers: If you eat a lot, you put on weight. You put on weight if you eat a lot. When you eat a lot, you put on weight.
3. What happens if you don’t sleep?
   Possible Answers: If you don’t sleep, you get tired. You get tired if you don’t sleep. When you don’t sleep, you get tired.
4. What happens if it doesn’t rain?
   Possible Answers: If it doesn’t rain, plants don’t grow. Plants don’t grow if it doesn’t rain. When it doesn’t rain, plants don’t grow.
5. What happens if it rains?
   Possible Answers: If it rains, the ground gets wet. The ground gets wet if it rains. When it rains, the ground gets wet.
6. What happens if the dog barks?
   Possible Answers: If the dog barks, it scares the cat. The cat gets scared if the dog barks. When the dog barks, it scares the cat.
7. What happens if people exercise?
   Possible Answers: If people exercise, they feel better. People feel better if they exercise. When people exercise, they feel better.
8. What happens if you mix blue and yellow?
   Possible Answers: If you mix blue and yellow, you get green. You get green if you mix blue and yellow. When you mix blue and yellow, you get green.
9. What happens if you don’t eat?
   Possible Answers: If you don’t eat, you get hungry. You get hungry if you don’t eat. When you don’t eat, you get hungry.
10. What do you need when you take a test?
    Possible Answers: If you take a test, you need a pen. You need a pen if you take a test. When you take a test, you need a pen.
11. What happens when students arrive late?
    Possible Answers: If students arrive late, teachers are not happy. Teachers are not happy if students arrive late. When students arrive late, teachers are not happy.
12. What happens if you don’t drink water?
    Possible Answers: If you don’t drink water, you get thirsty. You get thirsty if you don’t drink water. When you don’t drink water, you get thirsty.
13. What happens when people get angry?
    Possible Answers: If people get angry, they don’t think clearly. People don’t think clearly if they get angry. When people get angry, they don’t think clearly.
14. What should you do with your phone when you bring it to class?
    Possible Answers: If you bring your phone to class, it needs to be on silent. It needs to be on silent if you bring it to class. When you bring your phone to class, it needs to be on silent.
15. What happens if you leave food out too long?
    Possible Answers: If you leave food out too long, it goes bad. Food goes bad if you leave it out too long. When you leave food out too long, it goes bad.
16. What happens if you push the button?
    Possible Answers: If you push the button, the volume increases. The volume increases if you push the button. When you push the button, the volume increases.
17. What happens if you stand near the door?
    Possible Answers: If you stand near the door, it automatically opens. The door automatically opens if you stand near it. When you stand near the door, it automatically opens.
18. What happens if you disconnect the battery?
    Possible Answers: If you disconnect the battery, the computer turns off. The computer turns off if you disconnect the battery. When you disconnect the battery, the computer turns off.
19. What happens if you don’t water a plant?
    Possible Answers: If you don’t water a plant, it dies. A plant dies if you don’t water it. When you don’t water a plant, it dies.
20. What happens if you leave ice in the sun?
    Possible Answers: If you leave ice in the sun, it melts. Ice melts if you leave it in the sun. When you leave ice in the sun, it melts.
21. What happens if employees feel appreciated?
    Possible Answers: If employees feel appreciated, they work harder. Employees work harder if they feel appreciated. When employees feel appreciated, they work harder.
22. What happens if you put water in the freezer?
    Possible Answers: If you put water in the freezer, it freezes. Water freezes if you put it in the freezer. When you put water in the freezer, it freezes.
23. What happens when the sun goes down?
    Possible Answers: If the sun goes down, it gets dark. It gets dark if the sun goes down. When the sun goes down, it gets dark.
24. What happens if you touch fire?
    Possible Answers: If you touch fire, it hurts. It hurts if you touch fire. When you touch fire, it hurts.
25. What happens if you drop a glass?
    Possible Answers: If you drop a glass, it breaks. A glass breaks if you drop it. When you drop a glass, it breaks.
26. What happens if you stay up late?
    Possible Answers: If you stay up late, you feel tired the next day. You feel tired the next day if you stay up late. When you stay up late, you feel tired the next day.
27. What happens when people earn more money?
    Possible Answers: If people earn more money, they pay more taxes. People pay more taxes if they earn more money. When people earn more money, they pay more taxes.
28. What happens when winter arrives?
    Possible Answers: If winter arrives, many birds fly south. Many birds fly south if winter arrives. When winter arrives, many birds fly south.
29. What happens when dogs are hungry?
    Possible Answers: If dogs are hungry, they bark. Dogs bark if they are hungry. When dogs are hungry, they bark.
30. What happens when it is dark outside?
    Possible Answers: If it is dark outside, people get scared. People get scared if it is dark outside. When it is dark outside, people get scared.