English Grammar: Real Conditional Statements

In English grammar, a **real conditional statement** (also often referred to as a **factual conditional** or, more commonly, broken down into **Zero Conditional** and **First Conditional**) talks about situations that are real, possible, or generally true. They express a cause-and-effect relationship where the "if" clause presents a condition and the main clause presents the result.

There are two main types of "real" conditionals:

1. Zero Conditional (General Truths/Facts)

This type of real conditional is used to talk about **general truths, scientific facts, habits, or things that always happen** under a certain condition. The condition *always* leads to the same result.

Examples:

• If you **heat** ice, it **melts**. (Scientific fact)
• If I **eat** too much sugar, I **feel** sick. (General truth/personal habit)
• If it **rains**, the ground **gets** wet. (Natural consequence)
• If you **mix** blue and yellow, you **get** green. (General truth)

Key Points:

• Both clauses use the **Present Simple** tense.
• "When" can often replace "if" without changing the meaning in zero conditionals. Example: *When* you heat ice, it melts.

2. First Conditional (Future Possible Situations)

This type of real conditional is used to talk about **possible situations in the future and their likely results**. The condition is realistic and probable.

Examples:

• If it **rains** tomorrow, we **will stay** home. (Possible future situation)
• If she **studies** hard, she **will pass** the exam. (Realistic future outcome)
• If I **find** your keys, I **can give** them to you. (Using a modal verb)
• If they **don't arrive** soon, we **might miss** the beginning of the movie. (Using a modal verb)
• If you **have** any questions, you **should ask** me. (Using a modal verb)

Key Points:

• The "if" clause describes a condition using the **Present Simple** (even though it refers to the future).
• The main clause uses "**will**" + base verb to describe the likely future result. Other modal verbs can be used to express different degrees of certainty, possibility, or obligation.

Punctuation (for both types)

• When the "if" clause comes first, use a **comma** before the main clause. Example: If I go to the store, I will buy milk.
• When the main clause comes first, **no comma** is typically needed. Example: I will buy milk if I go to the store.

In summary, real conditional statements describe situations and their outcomes that are either universally true (Zero Conditional) or realistically possible in the future (First Conditional).