Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
The Zero Conditional expresses facts, scientific laws, and habits that are always true when a specific condition is met.
- Use Present Simple in both clauses: 'If you heat ice, it melts.'
- Use 'when' instead of 'if' for things that happen regularly: 'When it rains, the grass gets wet.'
- Use a comma only if the 'if' clause comes first: 'If it rains, I stay home.'
Overview
How This Grammar Works
will や might は必要ないんだ。意味を変えずに if を when に入れ替えられることも多いよ。「再生ボタンを押すとき（when）、音楽が始まる」。これでも全然自然に聞こえるよね。この文法は、2つの物事の関係性がすべてなんだ。レシピと同じ。「塩を入れすぎれば、料理はまずくなる」。結果からは逃げられないんだ！一貫性の文法だね。確信を持って、事実を伝えたい時に使ってみて。
Formation Pattern
If か When で始めて、条件を提示する。
if 節が先に来る場合は、ここにカンマを置く。
If/When + [Present Simple], + [Present Simple].
If you touch fire, you get burned. （火に触れば、火傷する。）
if/when + [Present Simple].
get burned if you touch fire. （この場合はカンマは不要！）
If the light is red, stop! （信号が赤なら、止まれ！）
When To Use It
If you know, you know）」。
Common Mistakes
will を使っちゃうこと。「水を熱すれば、沸騰するだろう（it will boil）」なんて言いがちだけど。厳密には罪じゃないけど、未来の特定の出来事みたいに聞こえちゃうんだ。一般的な真理なら、シンプルにいこう：「沸騰する（It boils）」。もう一つのミスは、三人称単数の 's' を忘れちゃうこと。「もし彼がボタンを押せば（If he press...）」はダメ！「If he presses the button」だね。あと、カンマにも気をつけて。if が文頭ならカンマを使う。真ん中にあるなら、飛ばしてOK。深く考えすぎないで。理由があって「シンプル」な条件文なんだから。現在形で、事実に即していれば大丈夫。TikTokのダンスみたいなものかな。ステップを間違えると変に見えるけど、ステップ自体は実はかなり簡単なんだ。Contrast With Similar Patterns
If I eat peanuts, I get sick.）」（アレルギーがあるから、いつもそうなる）。If I eat this peanut now, I will get sick.）」（特定のピーナッツ、特定の時間）。Quick FAQ
if の代わりに when を使ってもいい？
もちろん！ゼロ条件文では、たいてい入れ替え可能だよ。「雨が降ると（When it rains）、芝生が濡れる」で完璧に意味が通じる。
結果の部分に can や should を使っても大丈夫？
全然OK。指示を出す時に、「迷ったら（If you get lost）、電話していいよ（you can call me）」みたいによく使うよ。一般的なルールとして機能するんだ。
必ず現在形じゃないといけないの？
この特定のルールについては、イエス。両方の動詞を現在形にとどめておく。そうすることで、不変の真実っていう感じが出るんだ。
もし結果がいつも真実じゃなかったら？
その場合は、たぶん第1条件文が必要だね。ゼロは100%のパターンの時にだけ使おう。
Zero Conditional Structure
| Clause Type | Conjunction | Subject | Verb Tense | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Condition Clause
|
If / When
|
You
|
Present Simple
|
If you heat ice,
|
|
Result Clause
|
(None)
|
It
|
Present Simple
|
it melts.
|
|
Negative Condition
|
If
|
You
|
Present Simple (Neg)
|
If you don't eat,
|
|
Negative Result
|
(None)
|
You
|
Present Simple (Neg)
|
you don't grow.
|
|
Question Form
|
If
|
You
|
Present Simple
|
Do you get sick if you eat nuts?
|
Common Contractions in Zero Conditional
| Full Form | Contraction | Usage Example |
|---|---|---|
|
do not
|
don't
|
If you don't study, you fail.
|
|
does not
|
doesn't
|
If it doesn't rain, plants die.
|
|
I am
|
I'm
|
If I'm late, I call.
|
|
it is
|
it's
|
If it's hot, I swim.
|
Meanings
A grammatical structure used to talk about general truths, scientific facts, or things that are always certain to happen under specific conditions.
Scientific Facts
Describing laws of nature or scientific certainties.
“If water reaches 100 degrees, it boils.”
“If you freeze water, it becomes a solid.”
Habits and Routines
Describing personal rules or automatic reactions to situations.
“If I wake up late, I miss the bus.”
“When I'm tired, I drink coffee.”
Instructions and Commands
Giving orders or advice based on a specific condition.
“If the alarm rings, leave the building immediately.”
“Call me if you need help.”
Reference Table
| 条件 (If/When節) | 結果 (主節) | 文の種類 |
|---|---|---|
|
If you heat metal,
|
it expands.
|
科学的事実
|
|
When I exercise,
|
I feel better.
|
個人的な真実/習慣
|
|
If the battery runs low,
|
recharge your phone.
|
指示/ルール
|
|
When it's cold,
|
water freezes.
|
自然現象
|
|
If you don't save,
|
you lose your work.
|
結果/ルール
|
|
When he gets bored,
|
he scrolls TikTok.
|
習慣/日課
|
|
If you mix primary colors,
|
you create secondary colors.
|
一般的な真実
|
|
When the traffic light is red,
|
you stop.
|
ルール/指示
|
フォーマル度スペクトル
If one consumes caffeine late in the evening, sleep is often elusive. (Health advice)
If you drink coffee late at night, you don't sleep well. (Health advice)
Drink coffee late, you don't sleep. (Health advice)
Late coffee = no sleep. (Health advice)
Zero Conditional: 事実と指示
構造
- If / When + Present Simple 条件節
- Present Simple 結果節
- Comma 「If/When」節が最初にくる場合に使用
用途
- 科学的事実 例: If you heat water to 100°C, it boils.
- 普遍的な真実 例: When the sun sets, it gets dark.
- 指示 / ルール 例: If you want coffee, press this button.
- 習慣 / 日課 例: If I wake up early, I go for a run.
重要な考え方
- 確実性 原因が常に同じ結果につながる
- 交換可能 「If」と「When」はよく同じ意味
Zero Conditional vs. First Conditional
Zero Conditional ですか？
その文は「常に真実であること」や「常に同じ結果をもたらす指示」を説明していますか？
結果節は明確な結果または一般的な命令を表していますか？
両方の節で`will`や`would`を避けていますか（丁寧な指示のための助動詞でない限り）？
Zero Conditionalのシナリオ
事実
- • If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.
- • When you freeze water, it expands.
- • If you drop something, it falls.
指示
- • If you want to log in, enter your username.
- • When the light turns green, go.
- • If you have questions, ask a teacher.
日課
- • If I feel stressed, I listen to music.
- • When my alarm rings, I wake up.
- • If they win, they celebrate loudly.
結果
- • If you don't study, you fail.
- • When it rains, the roads get slippery.
- • If you eat too much, you gain weight.
レベル別の例文
If you heat ice, it melts.
If you heat ice, it melts.
If I am tired, I sleep.
If I am tired, I sleep.
If it rains, the grass is wet.
If it rains, the grass is wet.
If you are hungry, eat an apple.
If you are hungry, eat an apple.
When it rains, I stay at home.
When it rains, I stay at home.
If you don't eat, you get thin.
If you don't eat, you get thin.
Does water boil if you heat it to 100 degrees?
Does water boil if you heat it to 100 degrees?
If my mom cooks, the food is great.
If my mom cooks, the food is great.
If you mix red and white, you get pink.
If you mix red and white, you get pink.
If the phone rings, don't answer it.
If the phone rings, don't answer it.
Plants die if they don't get enough sunlight.
Plants die if they don't get enough sunlight.
If you travel by bus, it takes much longer.
If you travel by bus, it takes much longer.
If a substance is denser than water, it sinks.
If a substance is denser than water, it sinks.
Whenever the economy slows down, unemployment rises.
Whenever the economy slows down, unemployment rises.
If you exercise regularly, your heart rate decreases.
If you exercise regularly, your heart rate decreases.
If the software crashes, the unsaved data is lost.
If the software crashes, the unsaved data is lost.
If the temperature drops below zero, the pipes are at risk of bursting.
If the temperature drops below zero, the pipes are at risk of bursting.
If one lacks discipline, success remains elusive.
If one lacks discipline, success remains elusive.
If the court finds the defendant guilty, a sentence is passed immediately.
If the court finds the defendant guilty, a sentence is passed immediately.
If a language is not spoken, it eventually becomes extinct.
If a language is not spoken, it eventually becomes extinct.
If the fundamental laws of physics are constant, then entropy invariably increases.
If the fundamental laws of physics are constant, then entropy invariably increases.
If a society neglects its youth, it sows the seeds of its own destruction.
If a society neglects its youth, it sows the seeds of its own destruction.
If the narrative lacks a coherent structure, the reader's engagement diminishes.
If the narrative lacks a coherent structure, the reader's engagement diminishes.
If an organism fails to adapt to its environment, it faces inevitable extinction.
If an organism fails to adapt to its environment, it faces inevitable extinction.
間違えやすい
Learners use 'will' in the zero conditional because they think the result is in the future.
Learners aren't sure which one to use in zero conditionals.
Learners try to use 'you should' or 'you must' instead of a simple imperative in instructions.
よくある間違い
If you heat ice, it will melt.
If you heat ice, it melts.
If it rain, the grass gets wet.
If it rains, the grass gets wet.
If I am hungry I eat.
If I am hungry, I eat.
If you not eat, you die.
If you don't eat, you die.
When it will rain, I stay home.
When it rains, I stay home.
If I wake up late, I'm missing the bus.
If I wake up late, I miss the bus.
If you mix oil and water, they are separating.
If you mix oil and water, they separate.
If you would heat ice, it melts.
If you heat ice, it melts.
If the alarm rings, you will leave.
If the alarm rings, leave.
If you don't have a ticket, you aren't entering.
If you don't have a ticket, you don't enter.
If the data will be corrupted, the system fails.
If the data is corrupted, the system fails.
文型パターン
If you ___, you ___.
When it ___, I ___.
If the ___ ___, the ___ ___.
___ ___ if ___ ___.
Real World Usage
If the sauce thickens too much, add a splash of water.
If the screen stays black, hold the power button for ten seconds.
If you drop the weights, you lose your membership.
If the catalyst is added, the reaction rate doubles.
If you don't clean your room, you don't get dessert.
If you work on a holiday, you get double pay.
「いつでも正しい」と考える
If you heat water, it boils.」
`will`と`would`は避ける
willやwouldを使ってしまうこと。常に正しいことを言うので、両方の文で現在形を使ってください。willは、将来の可能性を話す First Conditional で使います。「If you drop something, it falls.」
`If`と`When`は友達
ifとwhenはだいたい同じように使えます。どちらも、その条件で常に同じ結果になることを示しますよ。より自然に聞こえる方を選びましょう！「"When I'm hungry, I eat."」丁寧な指示
pleaseを加えたり、「もし〜していただけるなら」のような少し丁寧な表現を使うと、より柔らかい印象になりますよ。「If you need help, please ask.」
コンマの確認
IfやWhenで始まり、条件節が先に来る場合は、結果節の前にコンマが必要です。if節が後に来る場合はコンマは要りません。「If it rains, I take an umbrella.」
命令形を見つける
If the light is red, stop.」これは Zero Conditional のままで、必要な行動を表しています。
Smart Tips
Check that both verbs are in the Present Simple. Do not use 'will'.
Try swapping them. If the meaning stays the same, you are looking at a Zero Conditional.
Use the imperative in the second clause for a clearer, more professional tone.
Look for the 'If'. If it's at the start, put a comma in the middle. If it's in the middle, remove all commas.
発音
The 'If' Clause Lift
In the first part of the sentence (the condition), your voice usually goes up in pitch at the end of the clause to show the sentence isn't finished.
The Result Clause Fall
The second part of the sentence (the result) ends with a falling intonation to signal the end of the statement.
Rising-Falling
If it rains [rising], the grass gets wet [falling].
Standard declarative conditional statement.
暗記しよう
記憶術
FACTS: Frequently Always Constant True Situations. If it's a FACT, use the Zero Conditional.
視覚的連想
Imagine a light switch. If you flip the switch (Condition), the light turns on (Result). It happens every single time, without fail. This is the Zero Conditional.
Rhyme
If the fact is always true, Present Simple is for you!
Story
A scientist in a lab always follows rules. If he mixes A and B, it explodes. If he leaves the door open, the mice escape. His life is a series of Zero Conditionals because everything is a predictable result of an action.
Word Web
チャレンジ
Look around your room. Find three things that always happen. (e.g., 'If I press this button, the TV turns on.') Write them down using the Zero Conditional.
文化メモ
British speakers frequently use the zero conditional to talk about the weather and social etiquette. 'If it's sunny, everyone goes to the park.'
In academic and scientific writing, the zero conditional is the standard for defining laws and repeatable results.
Americans often use the zero conditional for 'tough love' advice or stating blunt facts of life.
The word 'if' comes from the Old English 'gif', which has Germanic roots. The structure of using present tenses for universal truths has been a stable feature of English for centuries.
会話のきっかけ
What happens if you don't drink water for a whole day?
If you have a free weekend, what do you usually do?
How does your body react if you are very stressed?
In your country, what happens if someone breaks a minor law?
日記のテーマ
よくある間違い
Test Yourself
If the kettle ___, it means the water is boiling.
Find and fix the mistake:
If you will drop glass, it will break.
Choose the correct sentence:
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
Score: /4
練習問題
8 exercisesIf you ___ (mix) hydrogen and oxygen, you ___ (get) water.
Select the correct sentence:
Find and fix the mistake:
If she don't study, she fails her exams.
If you freeze water, it becomes ice.
You can use 'when' instead of 'if' in the Zero Conditional without changing the meaning.
A: Why is the grass so dry? B: Well, if it ___ (not rain), the grass ___ (die).
Identify the incorrect usage:
1. If you touch fire... 2. If you don't sleep... 3. If you add sugar...
Score: /8
Practice Bank
12 exercisesWhen the temperature ___ below zero, water freezes.
If you will mix blue and yellow, you will get green.
Which sentence is correct?
Translate into English: 'Si hace calor, la gente suda.'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the conditions with the correct results:
If you ___ the red button, the alarm sounds.
When he is late, he will usually call.
Which sentence is correct?
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the beginning of the instruction with its correct completion:
Score: /12
よくある質問 (8)
No. If you use `will`, it becomes a First Conditional, which is for specific future events, not general truths.
They are mostly interchangeable. `When` suggests the condition happens more frequently or certainly than `if`.
Only if the `if` clause comes first. If the result clause is first, no comma is used.
Yes, but you must use the Past Simple in both clauses. 'If it rained, we played inside.' This is called the Past Real Conditional.
It is neutral. It is used in both very formal scientific papers and very informal daily speech.
Yes! This is very common for instructions. 'If you are tired, go to bed.'
Because there is 'zero' doubt about the result. It is a 100% certainty.
Yes. `Unless` means `if not`. 'Plants die unless they get water.'
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Si + presente + presente
Spanish speakers rarely make the mistake of adding 'will' (hará) in this context.
Si + présent + présent
French speakers might use 'quand' (when) more frequently than 'si'.
Wenn + Präsens + Präsens
The verb moves to the end of the 'wenn' clause in German, unlike English.
Verb-ru + to (~と)
Japanese has several conditional forms (~ba, ~tara), but 'to' is the closest to the Zero Conditional.
Idha (إذا) + Present
Arabic can also use the past tense after 'Idha' to express a condition, which confuses learners.
Ruguo (如果) ... jiu (就) ...
The lack of tense markers in Chinese makes the 'Present Simple' concept abstract for learners.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Learn These First
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