First sentence = what ALWAYS happens. Second sentence = asking for information.
🎙 Speak: What's different about these two sentences?
Zero conditional: For facts. "If you freeze water, it becomes ice." This is always true.
Yes/No questions: For asking. "Do you speak French?" You want a yes or no answer.
Both are in conversations every day. You need them.
Think of one thing that always happens in your life — like "If I drink coffee, I can't sleep." Don't say it yet.
🎙 Speak: Tell me something that always happens in your life. Use "if."
Use zero conditional for things that are always true — facts of nature, universal truths, habits that never change.
Point 1: Both parts use present simple. No "will" or "would."
✓ "If you eat sugar, you get energy." ✗ "If you eat sugar, you will get energy." (Not zero conditional.)
Point 2: The result ALWAYS happens. It's 100% certain, not maybe.
✓ "If water boils, it makes steam." (Always.) ✗ "If I study, I pass." (Maybe, but not always.)
"If you mix blue and yellow, you green."
get — "If you mix blue and yellow, you get green." This is always true — it's a fact.
"If you don't eat breakfast, you hungry by 11 AM."
get/become — "If you don't eat breakfast, you get hungry by 11 AM." Always true.
🎙 Speak: Make three zero conditional sentences about things that always happen in your life or in nature.
Make three sentences about facts in nature or your life.
Example: "If I drink coffee, I sleep badly. If it's sunny, I go outside. If people are sick, they go to the doctor."
🎙 Speak: Tell me your three if-sentences now.
Ask a yes/no question by moving the helping verb to the FRONT. The answer is always "Yes, I/you/he/she do/does/can/will..." or "No, I/you/he/she don't/doesn't/can't..."
| Statement | Question |
|---|---|
| You like coffee. | Do you like coffee? |
| She speaks English. | Does she speak English? |
| They can swim. | Can they swim? |
| He is tired. | Is he tired? |
| You are ready. | Are you ready? |
Rule 1: Move the helping verb to the front.
Do/Does, Can, Is/Are, Will, etc. go FIRST.
Rule 2: Subject comes after the verb.
DO you... CAN he... IS she... ARE they...
Rule 3: The main verb stays in base form.
Do you LIKE? (not "do you likes")
Statement: "You like tea." → Question: ?
"Do you like tea?" Move "do" to the front.
Statement: "She can speak French." → Question: ?
"Can she speak French?" Move "can" to the front.
Statement: "He is a teacher." → Question: ?
"Is he a teacher?" Move "is" to the front.
🎙 Speak: Ask me five yes/no questions about my life, my family, my abilities, anything.
Create five yes/no questions to ask me.
Example: "Do you have children? Can you cook? Is your family big? Do you like sports? Are you tired today?"
🎙 Speak: Ask me your five questions now. I'll answer yes or no.
Now you can use both: make zero conditional statements AND ask yes/no questions.
Sentence 1: "If someone is sad, they cry."
Is this zero conditional or a yes/no question?
Zero conditional. It's a fact that's always true. Present simple in both parts.
Sentence 2: "Do you like music?"
Is this zero conditional or a yes/no question?
Yes/No question. The verb moved to the front (Do). It needs a yes or no answer.
🎙 Speak: Make two zero conditional sentences and ask me two yes/no questions.
Pick one situation. Use zero conditional sentences and ask yes/no questions naturally.
🎙 Speak: Pick one. Talk for two minutes. Use zero conditional and yes/no questions naturally.
I'll ask you yes/no questions. You answer. Then you'll create your own zero conditional sentences.
Do you like coffee?
🎙 Speak: Answer yes or no, and say why.
Can you cook?
🎙 Speak: Answer yes or no, and give an example.
Are you tired right now?
🎙 Speak: Answer yes or no, and say why.
Think of facts about nature, cooking, or your daily life. Use zero conditional.
Example: "If I exercise in the morning, I have more energy. If it's hot, ice cream melts. If I study before bed, I sleep badly."
🎙 Speak: Tell me three if-then facts about your life or nature.
Write a short dialogue. Include zero conditional sentences and yes/no questions.
Read your dialogue with different voices. Then pick one yes/no question and one zero conditional sentence. Explain what each one does.
🎙 Speak: Read your dialogue. Then explain one question and one if-sentence.
...use zero conditional to talk about facts that are always true, ask yes/no questions to get information, and answer yes/no questions clearly.
1. What tense do you use for zero conditional?
Present simple in both parts. "If you freeze water, it becomes ice." Both parts are present simple.
2. What happens to the verb in a yes/no question?
The helping verb moves to the FRONT. "Do you like coffee?" "Can she swim?" "Is he ready?"
3. How do you answer a yes/no question?
With the same helping verb. Q: "Do you like coffee?" A: "Yes, I do." / "No, I don't." Q: "Can she swim?" A: "Yes, she can." / "No, she can't."
Tell me:
🎙 Speak: Do all three. Show me you can use zero conditional and yes/no questions naturally.
🎙 Speak: Which was easier — zero conditional or yes/no questions? Why?