Zero vs. First Conditional: The Difference
1. Zero Conditional (General Truths)
We use this for facts that are always true. It's like a scientific law or a personal rule.
(Wir nutzen dies für Fakten, die immer wahr sind – wie Naturgesetze.)
Structure: If + Present Simple, ... Present Simple.
Example: If you heat water to 100°C, it boils.
2. First Conditional (Real Possibilities)
We use this for a specific future situation. It is not a general law, but something that might happen soon.
(Wir nutzen dies für eine bestimmte Situation in der Zukunft, die wahrscheinlich eintreten wird.)
Structure: If + Present Simple, ... will + Verb.
Example: If it rains tomorrow, I will take an umbrella.
Key Tip: Ask yourself—is this "always true" (Zero) or is it "possible in the future" (First)?
Practice: Zero vs. First Conditional
Click on a) or b) to complete the sentence. The correct answer follows the 1, 2, 2, 1 sequence.
1. If you touch a fire, you ______ burned.
a) get
b) will get
(Wenn man Feuer berührt, verbrennt man sich. - Fakt)
2. If I have enough money next month, I ______ a new laptop.
a) buy
b) will buy
(Wenn ich nächsten Monat genug Geld habe, kaufe ich einen Laptop. - Zukunft)
3. If she misses the bus this afternoon, she ______ late for the meeting.
a) is
b) will be
4. If you mix yellow and blue, you ______ green.
a) get
b) will get
5. If babies are hungry, they ______.
a) cry
b) will cry
6. If the weather is nice on Sunday, we ______ a barbecue.
a) have
b) will have
7. If I am late for work tomorrow, my boss ______ angry.
a) is
b) will be
8. If you drop a glass, it ______.
a) breaks
b) will break
9. If you leave butter in the sun, it ______.
a) melts
b) will melt
10. If he finds a cheap flight, he ______ to Spain this summer.
a) goes
b) will go
11. If I eat peanuts, I ______ an allergic reaction.
a) will get
b) get
(Personal fact/Zero)
12. If they win this game, they ______ the champions.
a) will be
b) are
13. If you don't water plants, they ______.
a) die
b) will die
14. If you don't hurry, you ______ the train.
a) miss
b) will miss
15. If the power goes out, the lights ______ working.
a) will stop
b) stop
16. If we see him later, we ______ him the news.
a) will tell
b) tell
17. If you add 5 to 10, you ______ 15.
a) get
b) will get
18. If it's cold tomorrow, I ______ my heavy coat.
a) wear
b) will wear
19. If I finish my work early, I ______ you a call.
a) give
b) will give
20. If ice melts, it ______ water.
a) becomes
b) will become
21. If the sun shines, the snow ______.
a) disappears
b) will disappear
22. If you don't study for the test, you ______ it.
a) fail
b) will fail
23. If I get home late tonight, I ______ dinner.
a) don't cook
b) will not cook
24. If you heat metal, it ______.
a) expands
b) will expand
25. If people don't sleep, they ______ tired.
a) get
b) will get