General English Level 4 V 3
UNIT 02 Keeping fit TOPIC 04 I'll show you
LANGUAGE FOCUS 04 Talking about consequences
In this activity you will learn how to talk about the consequences of actions.
Steve says:
Anyone can climb if they have the right technique.
If you come off the rock, the belay helps to stop your fall.

Steve is talking about things that generally happen when you climb rocks. He uses a conditional sentence with the present tense in both the main clause and the conditional clause. This is sometimes called the zero conditional.

We use the zero conditional to talk about things which generally happen or which are generally true. The action in the main clause depends on the action in the conditional clause.

If you don't concentrate , it' s easy to fall off the wall.

conditional clause main clause
If + the present simple tense

If you come off the rock, 		+ present simple tense.
the belay helps to stop your fall.
+ present continuous tense.
you are not concentrating.
If + the present continuous tense

If she is feeling tired,
+ the present continuous tense.
she 's working too hard.
+ the present simple tense.
she takes a rest.

When we start a conditional sentence with the conditional (if) clause we need to use a comma to separate the two clauses.

We can also start the zero conditional with the main clause.

main clause conditional clause
The belay helps to stop your fall if you come off the rock.
He is telling the truth if he says he is scared.

When we start the sentence with the main clause, we don't need to use a comma.

Comparing the zero conditional
and the first conditional

We use the zero conditional to talk about facts or things which are generally true. If one event happens then another event generally follows. In the zero conditional, the verbs in the main clause and the conditional clause are in the present tense.

We use the first conditional to talk about events in the future. It is possible the event will happen but it depends on another event or action. In the first conditional, the verb in the main clause is in the future tense and the verb in the conditional clause is in the present simple tense.

If I save enough money, I 'll go on a holiday.

This is the first conditional. I might go on a holiday. It depends on how much money I save.

We 'll miss the bus if we don't hurry.

This is the first conditional. We might catch the bus. It depends on what time we leave.

1 Read the examples.
2 Listen to the examples.
3 Practise saying each example. Use the Pause button.
If I ride a bike, I get sore knees.
If I don't eat breakfast, I feel hungry all day.
If it rains , the tent leaks.
If it rains during the climb, it is very dangerous.
If I am singing , I am happy.
She always calls me if she is having problems.

Now go to 05 WRITING The zero conditional.