zero conditional and first conditional
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We use the so-called zero conditional when the result of the condition is always true.
What about following situation.
Let's say that we have a poorly written application. :)
and I complain that it simply does not work.
It is always true for this version of application.
Zero conditional sounds good to me.
Is it wrong to use first conditional here?
- "if I press a button it crashes."
- "if I press a button it will crash."
thanks!
conditionals first-conditional
edited 2 days ago
Mari-Lou A
62.5k57224464
asked Sep 12 '13 at 13:50
user51702user51702
1432
add a comment |
We use the so-called zero conditional when the result of the condition is always true.
What about following situation.
Let's say that we have a poorly written application. :)
and I complain that it simply does not work.
It is always true for this version of application.
Zero conditional sounds good to me.
Is it wrong to use first conditional here?
- "if I press a button it crashes."
- "if I press a button it will crash."
thanks!
conditionals first-conditional
edited 2 days ago
Mari-Lou A
62.5k57224464
asked Sep 12 '13 at 13:50
user51702user51702
1432
Are "zero conditional" and "first conditional" perhaps terms from ESL?
– GEdgar
Sep 12 '13 at 14:02
I have no idea. I was thinking that they are common and well known.
– user51702
Sep 12 '13 at 14:17
2
No, they are known almost exclusively to teachers and learners of English as a second or foreign language.
– Barrie England
Sep 12 '13 at 14:21
It does not really matter, does it? The question is what would be better to use in the case I described above.
– user51702
Sep 12 '13 at 14:29
“It is clear that a division of conditionals into the zero, first, second, and third categories does not adequately reflect actual usage.” —from “If only it were true: the problem with the four conditionals”, Christian Jones and Daniel Waller, ELT Journal 65:1 pp 24–32 (2011), Oxford University Press, doi: 10.1093/elt/ccp101.
– tchrist♦
Jan 24 '15 at 14:33
add a comment |
We use the so-called zero conditional when the result of the condition is always true.
What about following situation.
Let's say that we have a poorly written application. :)
and I complain that it simply does not work.
It is always true for this version of application.
Zero conditional sounds good to me.
Is it wrong to use first conditional here?
- "if I press a button it crashes."
- "if I press a button it will crash."
thanks!
conditionals first-conditional
edited 2 days ago
Mari-Lou A
62.5k57224464
asked Sep 12 '13 at 13:50
user51702user51702
1432
We use the so-called zero conditional when the result of the condition is always true.
What about following situation.
Let's say that we have a poorly written application. :)
and I complain that it simply does not work.
It is always true for this version of application.
Zero conditional sounds good to me.
Is it wrong to use first conditional here?
- "if I press a button it crashes."
- "if I press a button it will crash."
thanks!
conditionals first-conditional
conditionals first-conditional
edited 2 days ago
Mari-Lou A
62.5k57224464
asked Sep 12 '13 at 13:50
user51702user51702
1432
edited 2 days ago
Mari-Lou A
62.5k57224464
asked Sep 12 '13 at 13:50
user51702user51702
1432
edited 2 days ago
Mari-Lou A
62.5k57224464
edited 2 days ago
Mari-Lou A
62.5k57224464
edited 2 days ago
Mari-Lou A
62.5k57224464
62.5k57224464
asked Sep 12 '13 at 13:50
user51702user51702
1432
asked Sep 12 '13 at 13:50
user51702user51702
1432
asked Sep 12 '13 at 13:50
user51702user51702
1432
1432
Are "zero conditional" and "first conditional" perhaps terms from ESL?
– GEdgar
Sep 12 '13 at 14:02
I have no idea. I was thinking that they are common and well known.
– user51702
Sep 12 '13 at 14:17
2
No, they are known almost exclusively to teachers and learners of English as a second or foreign language.
– Barrie England
Sep 12 '13 at 14:21
It does not really matter, does it? The question is what would be better to use in the case I described above.
– user51702
Sep 12 '13 at 14:29
“It is clear that a division of conditionals into the zero, first, second, and third categories does not adequately reflect actual usage.” —from “If only it were true: the problem with the four conditionals”, Christian Jones and Daniel Waller, ELT Journal 65:1 pp 24–32 (2011), Oxford University Press, doi: 10.1093/elt/ccp101.
– tchrist♦
Jan 24 '15 at 14:33
add a comment |
Are "zero conditional" and "first conditional" perhaps terms from ESL?
– GEdgar
Sep 12 '13 at 14:02
I have no idea. I was thinking that they are common and well known.
– user51702
Sep 12 '13 at 14:17
2
No, they are known almost exclusively to teachers and learners of English as a second or foreign language.
– Barrie England
Sep 12 '13 at 14:21
It does not really matter, does it? The question is what would be better to use in the case I described above.
– user51702
Sep 12 '13 at 14:29
“It is clear that a division of conditionals into the zero, first, second, and third categories does not adequately reflect actual usage.” —from “If only it were true: the problem with the four conditionals”, Christian Jones and Daniel Waller, ELT Journal 65:1 pp 24–32 (2011), Oxford University Press, doi: 10.1093/elt/ccp101.
– tchrist♦
Jan 24 '15 at 14:33
Are "zero conditional" and "first conditional" perhaps terms from ESL?
– GEdgar
Sep 12 '13 at 14:02
Are "zero conditional" and "first conditional" perhaps terms from ESL?
– GEdgar
Sep 12 '13 at 14:02
I have no idea. I was thinking that they are common and well known.
– user51702
Sep 12 '13 at 14:17
I have no idea. I was thinking that they are common and well known.
– user51702
Sep 12 '13 at 14:17
2
2
No, they are known almost exclusively to teachers and learners of English as a second or foreign language.
– Barrie England
Sep 12 '13 at 14:21
No, they are known almost exclusively to teachers and learners of English as a second or foreign language.
– Barrie England
Sep 12 '13 at 14:21
It does not really matter, does it? The question is what would be better to use in the case I described above.
– user51702
Sep 12 '13 at 14:29
It does not really matter, does it? The question is what would be better to use in the case I described above.
– user51702
Sep 12 '13 at 14:29
“It is clear that a division of conditionals into the zero, first, second, and third categories does not adequately reflect actual usage.” —from “If only it were true: the problem with the four conditionals”, Christian Jones and Daniel Waller, ELT Journal 65:1 pp 24–32 (2011), Oxford University Press, doi: 10.1093/elt/ccp101.
– tchrist♦
Jan 24 '15 at 14:33
“It is clear that a division of conditionals into the zero, first, second, and third categories does not adequately reflect actual usage.” —from “If only it were true: the problem with the four conditionals”, Christian Jones and Daniel Waller, ELT Journal 65:1 pp 24–32 (2011), Oxford University Press, doi: 10.1093/elt/ccp101.
– tchrist♦
Jan 24 '15 at 14:33
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
The zero, or present, conditional, using the present tense in both clauses, means, in the words of ‘An A-Z of English Grammar’ by Leech and others, that ‘the condition can be true at any time’. In the case of the example, whenever I press a button, assuming I do, it crashes. In practice, it suggests that the speaker has indeed pressed a button on at least one occasion.
In the first conditional, the main clause envisages the likely result if the condition is fulfilled. In the example, I may or may not press a button, but pressing the button will certainly result in a crash. There is no indication in the sentence that the speaker has yet pressed a button.
answered Sep 12 '13 at 14:30
Barrie EnglandBarrie England
129k10205354
I hope it helps.
– Barrie England
Sep 12 '13 at 15:10
add a comment |
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1 Answer
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1 Answer
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votes
The zero, or present, conditional, using the present tense in both clauses, means, in the words of ‘An A-Z of English Grammar’ by Leech and others, that ‘the condition can be true at any time’. In the case of the example, whenever I press a button, assuming I do, it crashes. In practice, it suggests that the speaker has indeed pressed a button on at least one occasion.
In the first conditional, the main clause envisages the likely result if the condition is fulfilled. In the example, I may or may not press a button, but pressing the button will certainly result in a crash. There is no indication in the sentence that the speaker has yet pressed a button.
answered Sep 12 '13 at 14:30
Barrie EnglandBarrie England
129k10205354
I hope it helps.
– Barrie England
Sep 12 '13 at 15:10
add a comment |
The zero, or present, conditional, using the present tense in both clauses, means, in the words of ‘An A-Z of English Grammar’ by Leech and others, that ‘the condition can be true at any time’. In the case of the example, whenever I press a button, assuming I do, it crashes. In practice, it suggests that the speaker has indeed pressed a button on at least one occasion.
In the first conditional, the main clause envisages the likely result if the condition is fulfilled. In the example, I may or may not press a button, but pressing the button will certainly result in a crash. There is no indication in the sentence that the speaker has yet pressed a button.
answered Sep 12 '13 at 14:30
Barrie EnglandBarrie England
129k10205354
I hope it helps.
– Barrie England
Sep 12 '13 at 15:10
add a comment |
The zero, or present, conditional, using the present tense in both clauses, means, in the words of ‘An A-Z of English Grammar’ by Leech and others, that ‘the condition can be true at any time’. In the case of the example, whenever I press a button, assuming I do, it crashes. In practice, it suggests that the speaker has indeed pressed a button on at least one occasion.
In the first conditional, the main clause envisages the likely result if the condition is fulfilled. In the example, I may or may not press a button, but pressing the button will certainly result in a crash. There is no indication in the sentence that the speaker has yet pressed a button.
answered Sep 12 '13 at 14:30
Barrie EnglandBarrie England
129k10205354
The zero, or present, conditional, using the present tense in both clauses, means, in the words of ‘An A-Z of English Grammar’ by Leech and others, that ‘the condition can be true at any time’. In the case of the example, whenever I press a button, assuming I do, it crashes. In practice, it suggests that the speaker has indeed pressed a button on at least one occasion.
In the first conditional, the main clause envisages the likely result if the condition is fulfilled. In the example, I may or may not press a button, but pressing the button will certainly result in a crash. There is no indication in the sentence that the speaker has yet pressed a button.
answered Sep 12 '13 at 14:30
Barrie EnglandBarrie England
129k10205354
answered Sep 12 '13 at 14:30
Barrie EnglandBarrie England
129k10205354
answered Sep 12 '13 at 14:30
Barrie EnglandBarrie England
129k10205354
answered Sep 12 '13 at 14:30
Barrie EnglandBarrie England
129k10205354
129k10205354
I hope it helps.
– Barrie England
Sep 12 '13 at 15:10
add a comment |
I hope it helps.
– Barrie England
Sep 12 '13 at 15:10
I hope it helps.
– Barrie England
Sep 12 '13 at 15:10
I hope it helps.
– Barrie England
Sep 12 '13 at 15:10
add a comment |
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Are "zero conditional" and "first conditional" perhaps terms from ESL?
– GEdgar
Sep 12 '13 at 14:02
I have no idea. I was thinking that they are common and well known.
– user51702
Sep 12 '13 at 14:17
2
No, they are known almost exclusively to teachers and learners of English as a second or foreign language.
– Barrie England
Sep 12 '13 at 14:21
It does not really matter, does it? The question is what would be better to use in the case I described above.
– user51702
Sep 12 '13 at 14:29
“It is clear that a division of conditionals into the zero, first, second, and third categories does not adequately reflect actual usage.” —from “If only it were true: the problem with the four conditionals”, Christian Jones and Daniel Waller, ELT Journal 65:1 pp 24–32 (2011), Oxford University Press, doi: 10.1093/elt/ccp101.
– tchrist♦
Jan 24 '15 at 14:33