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Grammatica
Clauses and linking A2 B1

Zero and first conditionals

Talk about general results and real future possibilities with if, when, unless, and as long as.

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Visuele uitleg

Conditionals: general pattern or real future case

CONDITION  →  RESULT
        if / when / unless / as long as

GENERAL PATTERN
present condition  →  present result
If water gets hot enough, it boils.

REAL FUTURE CASE
present condition  →  future result
If it rains tomorrow, we'll stay inside.

Mental note:
will goes in the RESULT, not after if/when.

Use present after the condition word; choose present result for a general fact, or will/can/imperative for a real future result.

Introduction

Two useful conditionals

Conditionals connect a condition with a result. Zero conditionals talk about what generally happens, as in facts, habits, and rules. First conditionals talk about a real future possibility, such as a plan, warning, promise, or prediction. The condition clause often begins with if, but English also uses when, unless, and as long as. The key question is simple: are you describing a regular rule, or are you making a future decision based on a possible situation?
Core logic

Zero conditional: general result

Use the zero conditional for facts, rules, habits, instructions, and automatic results. The usual pattern is if or when plus present simple, then present simple. The result is not about one special future time; it feels repeatable. If and when are both possible, but when often suggests that the situation really happens or is expected to happen regularly. You can also reverse the order and put the result first. Negative conditions are normal and often useful for rules, warnings, and simple cause-and-effect statements.
Core Grammatica A2 Woordenschat A2 Neutral

If water gets hot enough, it boils.

Zero conditional for a general fact.

Bouwstenen

Lees de zin in woordgroepen, niet woord voor woord.

If water gets hot enough
condition
sets a general condition
Leer als één geheel
it boils
result
gives the regular result
Core Grammatica A2 Woordenschat A2 Neutral

If I skip breakfast, I get hungry before lunch.

A personal habit or repeated result uses zero conditional.

Bouwstenen

Lees de zin in woordgroepen, niet woord voor woord.

If I skip breakfast
condition
states a regular condition
Leer als één geheel
I get hungry before lunch
result
states the usual result
Core Grammatica A2 Woordenschat A2 Neutral

When the office closes, the lights go off.

When can introduce a regular condition.

Bouwstenen

Lees de zin in woordgroepen, niet woord voor woord.

When the office closes
time_condition
uses when for something expected or regular
Leer als één geheel
the lights go off
result
gives the regular result
Core Grammatica A2 Woordenschat A2 Neutral

Ice melts if you leave it in the sun.

The result can come before the if-clause.

Bouwstenen

Lees de zin in woordgroepen, niet woord voor woord.

Ice melts
result
puts the general result first
if you leave it in the sun
condition
adds the condition after the result
Leer als één geheel
Negative Grammatica A2 Woordenschat A2 Neutral

If you don't water this plant, it dies.

Negative conditions are common in zero conditional.

Bouwstenen

Lees de zin in woordgroepen, niet woord voor woord.

If you don't water this plant
negative_condition
sets a negative condition
Leer als één geheel
it dies
result
gives the general result
Core pattern

First conditional: real future possibility

Use the first conditional when the condition is real and possible, but the result is about now or the future. The condition clause normally uses a present form. The result clause often uses will or won’t, but it can also use an imperative for advice or instructions. In questions, will usually appears in the main question clause, not in the if-clause. This pattern is common for plans, offers, warnings, promises, and predictions. It sounds practical, not imaginary.
Core Grammatica A2 Woordenschat A2 Neutral

If it rains tomorrow, we'll stay inside.

First conditional for a real future possibility.

Bouwstenen

Lees de zin in woordgroepen, niet woord voor woord.

If it rains tomorrow
condition
sets a real future possibility
Leer als één geheel
we'll stay inside
result
gives the planned future result
Core Grammatica A2 Woordenschat A2 Neutral

If the train is late, I'll call you.

First conditional with will in the result clause.

Bouwstenen

Lees de zin in woordgroepen, niet woord voor woord.

If the train is late
condition
sets a possible future situation
Leer als één geheel
I'll call you
result
gives the future response
Core Grammatica A2 Woordenschat A1 Neutral

If you need help, ask me.

The result clause can be an imperative.

Bouwstenen

Lees de zin in woordgroepen, niet woord voor woord.

If you need help
condition
sets a possible need
Leer als één geheel
ask me
imperative_result
gives an instruction or offer
Negative Grammatica A2 Woordenschat A2 Neutral

If we don't leave now, we won't get seats.

A first conditional can have a negative condition and a negative result.

Bouwstenen

Lees de zin in woordgroepen, niet woord voor woord.

If we don't leave now
negative_condition
sets a negative real condition
Leer als één geheel
we won't get seats
negative_result
gives the negative future result
Question Grammatica A2 Woordenschat A1 Neutral

What will you do if they say no?

In questions, will belongs in the main clause, not the if-clause.

Bouwstenen

Lees de zin in woordgroepen, niet woord voor woord.

What will you do
question_result
asks about the future result
Leer als één geheel
if they say no
condition
sets the condition with present simple
Sentence xray

Sentence X-ray: condition plus result

In a conditional sentence, one clause names the condition and the other gives the result. When the condition comes first, a comma normally separates it from the result. When the result comes first, English usually uses no comma before the if-clause. This word order does not change the logic. Put the information you want to set up first. Starting with the condition is useful for planning or warning. Starting with the result is useful when the result is the main message.
Core Grammatica A2 Woordenschat A1 Neutral

If the weather is good, we'll eat outside.

Condition first: use a comma before the main clause.

Bouwstenen

Lees de zin in woordgroepen, niet woord voor woord.

If the weather is good
condition
names the condition first
Leer als één geheel
we'll eat outside
result
gives the future result
Core Grammatica A2 Woordenschat A1 Neutral

We'll eat outside if the weather is good.

Result first: usually no comma before the if-clause.

Bouwstenen

Lees de zin in woordgroepen, niet woord voor woord.

We'll eat outside
result
puts the main result first
if the weather is good
condition
adds the condition after the result
Leer als één geheel
Contrast

Contrast: general pattern or one future case

The closest confusion is zero conditional versus first conditional. Zero conditional says a general pattern; first conditional says one real possibility. A sentence with no special future time often describes a habit, rule, or fact. A sentence with tonight, tomorrow, later, next week, or another future time usually points to first conditional. The verb in the result changes the feeling: present simple gives a regular result, while will or won’t gives a future result.
Contrast Grammatica A2 Woordenschat A2 Neutral

If I drink coffee late, I don't sleep well.

Zero conditional describes a general personal pattern.

Bouwstenen

Lees de zin in woordgroepen, niet woord voor woord.

If I drink coffee late
condition
sets a repeated condition
Leer als één geheel
I don't sleep well
general_result
gives the usual result
Contrast Grammatica A2 Woordenschat A2 Neutral

If I drink coffee late tonight, I won't sleep well.

First conditional describes one real future possibility.

Bouwstenen

Lees de zin in woordgroepen, niet woord voor woord.

If I drink coffee late tonight
condition
sets one possible situation tonight
Leer als één geheel
I won't sleep well
future_result
gives the likely future result
Usage rules

If, when, unless, and as long as

Use if for an uncertain condition. Use when when you expect the event to happen. In future-time clauses after when, English still uses a present form, not will. Unless means if not, so it introduces a negative condition. As long as means only if or provided that; it sets a condition that must be true. These linkers can begin the sentence or come in the middle. The verb rule stays the same: present form in the condition or time clause, future or practical result in the main clause.
Core Grammatica A2 Woordenschat A1 Neutral

When I get home, I'll text you.

After when with future meaning, use a present form in the time clause.

Bouwstenen

Lees de zin in woordgroepen, niet woord voor woord.

When I get home
expected_time_condition
uses when for an expected future time
Leer als één geheel
I'll text you
future_result
gives the future action
Core Grammatica A2 Woordenschat A2 Neutral

Unless traffic is terrible, we'll arrive by six.

Unless introduces the negative condition.

Bouwstenen

Lees de zin in woordgroepen, niet woord voor woord.

Unless traffic is terrible
negative_condition
means if traffic is not terrible
Leer als één geheel
we'll arrive by six
result
gives the expected future result
Core Grammatica A2 Woordenschat A2 Neutral

As long as you tell the truth, I won't be angry.

As long as sets a required condition.

Bouwstenen

Lees de zin in woordgroepen, niet woord voor woord.

As long as you tell the truth
necessary_condition
means only if you tell the truth
Leer als één geheel
I won't be angry
result
gives the result if the condition is met
Danger zone

Danger zone: will in the wrong place

The most common error is using will inside the condition clause when you mean the future. In standard first conditional, the future meaning comes from the whole sentence, not from will after if, when, unless, or as long as. Keep will in the result clause, not the condition clause. Also be careful with unless: it already contains a negative idea. Do not add another negative unless you truly mean the opposite. In most everyday sentences, unless you have a reason is clearer than unless you don’t have a reason.
Mistake Grammatica A2 Woordenschat A1 Neutral

If it will rain, we'll cancel.

Do not use will in the if-clause for a normal future condition.

Corrected Grammatica A2 Woordenschat A1 Neutral

If it rains, we'll cancel.

Use present simple in the condition clause and will in the result clause.

Bouwstenen

Lees de zin in woordgroepen, niet woord voor woord.

If it rains
condition
uses present simple for the future condition
Leer als één geheel
we'll cancel
future_result
keeps will in the result clause
Form variations

Common form variations

The condition clause is often present simple, but other present forms are possible when the meaning needs them. You can use a present continuous idea for something happening now, or a present perfect idea for something already completed. The result clause is flexible: will for prediction, can for possibility or permission, may or might for weaker possibility, and an imperative for advice or instructions. The logic stays the same: a real condition leads to a practical result.
Core Grammatica A2 Woordenschat A1 Neutral

If you're busy, I can wait.

The result clause can use can instead of will.

Bouwstenen

Lees de zin in woordgroepen, niet woord voor woord.

If you're busy
condition
sets a real present condition
Leer als één geheel
I can wait
possible_result
uses can for a possible response
Summary

The practical choice

Choose the zero conditional for general results: present condition, present result. Choose the first conditional for real future possibilities: present condition, future or practical result. Use if for uncertainty, when for expected timing, unless for if not, and as long as for only if. Remember the main boundary: do not use will in the condition clause for normal future meaning. Changing the clause order is fine; just use a comma when the condition comes first.
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