PE-53: Zero and First Conditional
If sentences that are real: what always happens, and what will happen if — plus the golden rule that there is never a 'will' after 'if'.
PE-53: Zero and First Conditional
Conditionals are how English talks about consequences: if this, then that. There are four of them, and the good news is that they are a system, not a list. The first two are about the real world — what is always true, and what will probably happen. And they share one golden rule that you already met in PE-26: never put will after if.
In this lesson you will learn
- Zero conditional — things that are always true
- First conditional — a real possibility in the future
- The no-will-after-if rule
- unless, and the other time words that behave like if
1. Zero conditional — the law of nature
Use it for things that are always true: science, rules, habits. Both halves are in the Present Simple, and if here means almost the same as when.
If you heat water to 100°, it boils. If I drink coffee at night, I don't sleep.
Agar suvni 100 darajagacha qizdirsangiz, u qaynaydi. Agar kechqurun qahva ichsam, uxlay olmayman.
Not one particular occasion — this is what happens every time.
2. First conditional — a real future
Use it when something is genuinely possible: it may well happen, and here is the consequence. The if-half stays in the Present Simple; the result half takes will.
If it rains tomorrow, we will stay at home.
Agar ertaga yomgʻir yogʻsa, uyda qolamiz.
3. Zero or First? One question
Zero — every time, always
- If you press this button, the light comes on.
- If Afsona is tired, she goes to bed early.
First — one particular future occasion
- If you press this button, the light will come on.
- If Afsona is tired tonight, she will go to bed early.
4. unless = if not
Unless is a useful short-cut. It already contains the negative, so the verb after it stays positive.
You won't pass unless you study. = You won't pass if you don't study.
Oʻqimasangiz, imtihondan oʻtolmaysiz.
Never unless you don't study — that would be a double
negative.
5. Other words that follow the same rule
The no-will rule is not only for if. These joiners behave identically: when, as soon as, before, after, until, while, by the time.
As soon as I get home, I'll call you. I won't leave until you arrive.
Uyga yetib borishim bilanoq senga qoʻngʻiroq qilaman. Sen kelmaguningcha ketmayman.
And the result half does not have to use will. It can take an imperative or another modal:
If you see Sherbek, tell him to call me. — If you finish early, you can go home.
Agar Sherbekni koʻrsang, menga qoʻngʻiroq qilishini ayt. — Agar erta tugatsangiz, uyga ketishingiz mumkin.
6. Common mistakes
If it will rain, we will stay home.
If it rains, we will stay home.
If I will see him, I will tell him.
If I see him, I will tell him.
Unless you don't hurry, you'll be late.
Unless you hurry, you'll be late.
When I will finish, I will call you.
When I finish, I will call you.
If you heat ice, it will melts.
If you heat ice, it melts. (always true → zero conditional)
Practice
1 Complete: If you ? (mix) blue and yellow, you ? (get) green.
Show answer
mix … get. Zero conditional — this is always true, so both halves are Present Simple.
2 Complete: If Jasur ? (not hurry), he ? (miss) the bus.
Show answer
doesn't hurry … will miss. One particular occasion in the future → First conditional.
3 Rewrite with unless: If you don't water the plants, they will die.
Show answer
Unless you water the plants, they will die.
Unless carries the "not", so the verb becomes positive.
4 Find the mistake: As soon as the film will finish, we will go home.
Show answer
As soon as the film finishes, we will go home.
As soon as follows the same rule as if — no will in that half.
5 Zero or First? If I eat too much plov, I feel sleepy.
Show answer
Zero conditional — it describes what always happens to me, not one future occasion.
Key words — Kalit soʻzlar
- Conditionalshart gap
- Conditionshart
- Consequenceoqibat, natija
- Unless...masa
- To melterimoq
- To boilqaynamoq
- To pressbosmoq
- To water (plants)sugʻormoq
- Always truedoim toʻgʻri
- Possibilityehtimollik
🎯 Remember this
- Zero: if + present, present — always true (science, rules, habits).
- First: if + present, will + base verb — a real future possibility.
- Never will after if — nor after when, as soon as, until.
- unless = if not; the verb after it stays positive.
- The result half can also use an imperative or a modal.