We use the Zero Conditional to express: If you put the main clause first, and the if-

- general truths: clause last, then you do not write comma.

situation consequence Time passes slowly if you have nothing to do.
if + present present Buy a disposable camera if you don’t have one.
If you have nothing to do, time passes slowly. Instead of if you can use unless.
- advice Unless you have something to do, time passes
situation recommended action slowly.
if + present imperative We can also use when instead of if:
If you don’t have a camera, buy a disposable Time passes slowly when you have nothing to
one. do.

Write sentences as shown in the first 10 If / you / not like / the car / sell it
example:
1 Tom / always / buy / something / unnecessary 11 When / you / mix / red and yellow / you
/ when / he / go / shopping. / get / orange
Tom always buys something unnecessary
when he goes shopping.
Give advice:
2 Alice / usually / break / something / when /
1 If you want to be healthy, eat lots of
she / be / angry
fresh fruit and vegetables.
2 When it’s cloudy,
3 If / you / see / him / tell / him / to / call / me
3 If you want to be successful,

4 If / it / rain / call / a taxi 4 If you are going on a holiday,

5 If you don’t have a good memory,

5 Mark / usually / play / computer games /
when / he / have / free time
6 If you want to have nice smile,

7 If you are going to the mountains,

6 Glass / break / if / you / heat / it

8 If you are not good with Maths,

7 Whenever / Nick / call / Janice / she / not
answer / him 9 If you want to be fluent in English,

10 If you promise something,

8 If / it / get / cold / turn up / the heating.
11 If you have trouble getting up early,

9 If / you / want / to / be / healthy / drink /

plenty of water.
 Complete the gaps with the Rewrite the following sentences using
appropriate form of the verbs in brackets. unless:
1 When my baby brother (be) 1 Do not drive if you are not completely
hungry, he (cry). sober.
2 When the weather (be) nice, my
sister (walk) to work. 2 You get sunburned if you do not use
3 Water (boil) if you (heat) it enough sun cream.
to 100°C.
4 If you (pull) a cat’s tail, it 3 Do not eat too many sweets if you do not
(scratch) you.
want to get fat.
5 If you (have) a headache,
(take) an aspirin. 4 If you do not have an umbrella when it
6 My teacher (get) angry if we
rains, you get wet.
(not do) our homework.
7 My mum (get) really angry if I
5 My dog doesn’t bite if you don’t tease
(come) home late.
her.
8 My dad (get) really annoyed when I
(take) the car without asking him first.
6 Water doesn’t freeze if the temperature is
9 When my sister (have) no homework,
not below zero.
she (go) out with her friends.
10 If you (put) water in the freezer, it
7 Do not call me if you don’t have
(turn) into ice.
something really important to tell me.
11 If it (rain), the ground (get)
wet.
12 If there (be) no air, the fire
8 I go out for a walk only when it is sunny.
(not burn).
13 Iron (rust) if it (get) wet.
14 Plants (not grow) if you
9 My mum doesn’t go to work by car when
(not water) them.
the weather is nice.
15 If you (stay) in the sun too long, you
(get) sunburned.
10 My sister doesn’t buy me anything if I
16 If you (study) hard, you
don’t get good grade.
(get) good grades.
17 If you (eat) junk food, you 11 The butter doesn’t melt if you don’t
(get) fat. leave it on the sun.
18 If you (cut) your finger, you
(bleed). 12 My baby brother does not cry if he is not
19 If she (not drink) coffee, she hungry.
(get) a terrible headache.
20 You (sunburn) if you
(stay) too long on the beach.
KEY
Exercise 1 - Write sentences as shown in the first example:
1 Tom / always / buy / something / unnecessary / when / he / go / shopping.
Tom always buys something unnecessary when he goes shopping.
2 Alice / usually / break / something / when / she / be / angryAlice usually breaks something when she is angry.
3 If / you / see / him / tell / him / to / call / me If you see him tell him to call me
4 If / it / rain / call / a taxi If it rains call a taxi.
5 Mark / usually / play / computer games / when / he / have / free time Mark usually plays computer games when he has free
time
6 Glass / break / if / you / heat / it Glass breaks if you heat it.
7 Whenever / Nick / call / Janice / she / not answer / himWhenever Nick calls Janice she does not answer him.
8 If / it / get / cold / turn up / the heating. If it gets cold, turn up the heating.
9 If / you / want / to / be / healthy / drink / plenty of water. If you want to be healthy, drink plenty of water.
10 If / you / not like / the car / sell it If you don’t like the car, sell it.
11 When / you / mix / red and yellow / you / get / orange When you mix red and yellow, you get orange.

Exercise 2 - Give advice: (suggested answers=

1 If you want to be healthy, eat lots of fresh fruit and vegetables.
2 When it’s cloudy, take an umbrella.
3 If you want to be successful, work hard.
4 If you are going on a holiday, make sure you don’t forget something.
5 If you don’t have a good memory, make notes.
6 If you want to have nice smile, brush your teeth regularly.
7 If you are going to the mountains, make sure you don’t forget something.
8 If you are not good with Maths, ask your friend to help you.
9 If you want to be fluent in English, learn it every day.
10 If you promise something, keep it.
11 If you have trouble getting up early, try going to bed earlier.

Exercise 3 - Complete the gaps with the appropriate form of the verbs in brackets.
1 When my baby brother is (be) hungry, he cries(cry).
2 When the weather is (be) nice, my sister walks (walk) to work.
3 Water boils (boil) if you heat (heat) it to 100°C.
4 If you pull (pull) a cat’s tail, it scratches (scratch) you.
5 If you have (have) a headache, take (take) an aspirin.
6 My teacher gets (get) angry if we don’t do (not do) our homework.
7 My mum gets (get) really angry if I come (come) home late.
8 My dad gets (get) really annoyed when I take (take) the car without asking him first.
9 When my sister has (have) no homework, she goes (go) out with her friends.
10 If you put (put) water in the freezer, it turns (turn) into ice.
11 If it rains (rain), the ground gets (get) wet.
12 If there is (be) no air, the fire does not burn (not burn).
13 Iron rusts (rust) if it gets (get) wet.
14 Plants don’t grow (not grow) if you don’t water (not water) them.
15 If you stay (stay) in the sun too long, you get (get) sunburned.
16 If you study (study) hard, you get (get) good grades.
17 If you eat (eat) junk food, you get (get) fat.
18 If you cut (cut) your finger, you bleed (bleed).
19 If she doesn’t (not drink) coffee, she gets (get) a terrible headache.
20 You sunburn (sunburn) if you stay (stay) too long on the beach.

Exercise 4 - Rewrite the following sentences using unless:

1 Do not drive if you are not completely sober. Do not drive unless you are completely sober.
2 You get sunburned if you do not use enough sun cream. You get sunburned unless you use enough sun cream.
3 Do not eat too many sweets if you do not want to get fat. Don’t eat too many sweets unless you want to get fat.
4 If you do not have an umbrella when it rains, you get wet. Unless you have an umbrella when it rains, you get wet.
5 My dog doesn’t bite if you don’t tease her. My dog doesn’t bite unless you tease her.
6 Water doesn’t freeze if the temperature is not below zero. Water doesn’t freeze unless the temperature is below zero.
7 Do not call me if you don’t have something really important to tell me.Do not call me unless you have something really
important to tell me.
8 I go out for a walk only when it is sunny.I do not go out for a walk unless it’s sunny,
9 My mum doesn’t go to work by car when the weather is nice. My mum doesn’t go to work by car unless the weather is bad.
10 My sister doesn’t buy me anything if I don’t get good grade. My sister doesn’t buy me anything unless I get a good grade.
11 The butter doesn’t melt if you don’t leave it on the sun. The butter does not melt unless you leave it on the sun.
12 My baby brother does not cry if he is not hungry. My baba brother does not cry unless he is hungry.