Zero and First Conditional
- State facts with zero conditional and real future possibilities with first conditional.
- TR: Genel gerçekler için zero, gerçekleşebilir gelecek için first conditional.
- Success check: say one fact (zero) and one real plan (first).
Start the 8-question quizAdapts to your answers · every miss links back to the rule
Rule in 60 secondsThe one pattern to memorise.
- Zero: If + present simple, present simple — facts and habits: If you heat ice, it melts.
- First: If + present simple, will + base verb — real future: If it rains, we will stay home.
- The if-clause can come second (no comma): We will stay home if it rains.
- TR: Zero'da iki taraf da geniş zaman. First'te if'ten sonra will yok — will sonuç cümlesinde.
- Comma rule: if-clause first → comma; if-clause middle → no comma.
- No will after if: If it rains — never If it will rain.
- Tense map: zero = present + present; first = present + will.
FormsHow it looks in sentences.
| Type | If-clause | Main clause | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zero | If + present simple | present simple | If you press this, it starts. |
| First | If + present simple | will + V | If you press this, it will break. |
| First negative | If + don't/doesn't + V | won't + V | If you don't hurry, you'll miss it. |
| Swapped order | Main clause + if-clause (no comma) | — | You'll miss it if you don't hurry. |
- Alternatives to will: can/may/imperative in the result (If you're hot, open the window).
- Unless = if not: Unless you hurry, you'll be late.
- TR: unless = if … not. Emir cümlesi de sonuç olabilir: If you're tired, rest.
- Order swap: We'll stay if it rains — same meaning, no comma.
- Result options: will, can or an order — If you're hot, open the window.
- Zero test: a scientific fact takes present on both sides.
3 classic trapsWhere Turkish speakers slip.
- will in the if-clause: ❌ *If it will rain, we stay.* → ✅ *If it rains, we will stay.* (TR: if'ten sonra will gelmez.)
- Mixing the two: ❌ *If water boils, it will become steam.* (fact) → ✅ *If water boils, it becomes steam.* (TR: Bilimsel gerçek → zero.)
- Comma with swapped order: ❌ *We will stay home, if it rains.* → ✅ *We will stay home if it rains.* (TR: if ortadaysa virgül yok.)
10 example sentencesRead aloud, twice.
- If you heat water, it boils. — Suyu ısıtırsan kaynar — gerçek.
- If it snows, classes stop. — Kar yağarsa dersler durur — genel kural.
- If it rains, we'll stay home. — Yağmur yağarsa evde kalacağız.
- If you study, you'll pass. — Çalışırsan geçersin.
- She'll be angry if we are late. — Geç kalırsak kızar.
- If you don't hurry, you'll miss the bus. — Acele etmezsen otobüsü kaçırırsın.
- Unless you call, I'll worry. — Aramazsan endişelenirim.
- If you're hungry, eat something. — Açsan bir şey ye.
- If I see him, I'll tell him. — Onu görürsem söylerim.
- Plants die if you don't water them. — Sulamazsan bitkiler ölür — zero.
Quick checkCover the answers, say yours first.
- Q1: Fill in (zero): If ice ___ (melt), it becomes water.
- Q2: Fill in (first): If she comes, I ___ (be) happy.
- Q3: Correct the error: *If it will snow, we will cancel.*
- Q4: Choose: "___ you mix red and blue, you get purple." (If / Will)
- Q5: True or false: "We'll go out, if it stops." needs the comma.
- Q6: Fill in (first): If he hurries, he ___ (catch) the bus.
<summary>Answers</summary> - A1: melts - A2: will be (’ll be) - A3: If it snows, we will cancel. - A4: If - A5: False — "We'll go out if it stops." - A6: will catch ('ll catch).