This 15-question Zero Conditional practice quiz walks you through the topic step by step — from basic recognition to real-world application. Tailored for Level A2-B1, with clear explanations after every question. Great for building confidence before moving to harder topics.
Q1 15
Question 1: If you ___ water to 100°C, it boils.
Question 1 options
Check answer
'heat' is correct because the zero conditional requires the present simple tense in the if-clause. 'will heat' uses a future form, 'are heating' uses the present continuous, and 'heated' uses the past simple — none of these are used in the zero conditional.
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Q2 15
Question 2: If you leave milk out of the fridge, it ___ bad quickly.
Question 2 options
Check answer
'goes' is correct because the zero conditional uses the present simple tense in both clauses to express a general truth. 'will go' is used in the first conditional for future possibilities, 'went' is past simple, and 'is going' is present continuous — all incorrect for the zero conditional.
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Q3 15
Question 3: In a zero conditional sentence, both the if-clause and the main clause use the present simple tense.
Question 3 options
Check answer
True because the zero conditional structure is 'if/when + present simple, present simple.' Using any other tense, such as future 'will' or past simple, breaks the zero conditional rule.
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Q4 15
Question 4: Which situation is best described using the zero conditional?
Question 4 options
Check answer
'Something that is always true in nature' is correct because the zero conditional expresses general truths, scientific facts, and situations that always happen under certain conditions. It does not express future possibilities, past habits, or imaginary situations.
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Q5 15
Question 5: Arrange the words to make a correct sentence:
Question 5 options
If you mix
▲ ▼
you get
▲ ▼
green
▲ ▼
yellow and blue,
▲ ▼
Drag items or use arrows to arrange them in the correct order.
Check answer
The correct order is 'If you mix yellow and blue, you get green' because the zero conditional follows the structure: if + present simple (if-clause), present simple (main clause), with a comma after the if-clause when it comes first.
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Q6 15
Question 6: Which sentence is grammatically correct in the zero conditional?
Question 6 options
Check answer
'If plants don't get water, they die' is correct because both clauses use the present simple tense. 'will die' is a first conditional form, 'are dying' is present continuous, and 'died' is past simple — all are incorrect for the zero conditional.
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Q7 15
Question 7: A science teacher says: 'Remember, class — if you ___ iron in water for a long time, it rusts.' Which form correctly completes the teacher's statement?
Question 7 options
Check answer
'leave' is correct because the teacher is stating a scientific fact using the zero conditional, which requires the present simple in the if-clause. 'will leave' is future, 'left' is past, and 'are leaving' is continuous — none fit the zero conditional structure.
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Q8 15
Question 8: Which sentence correctly uses the zero conditional (not the first conditional)?
Question 8 options
Check answer
'If you freeze water, it becomes ice' is correct because it uses present simple in both clauses to express a general truth — this is the zero conditional. 'If it rains tomorrow, we will cancel the trip' uses 'will' in the main clause, making it a first conditional about a future possibility.
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Q9 15
Question 9: Put the words/clauses in the correct order:
Question 9 options
The ground
▲ ▼
when
▲ ▼
it rains
▲ ▼
gets wet
▲ ▼
Drag items or use arrows to arrange them in the correct order.
Check answer
The correct order is 'The ground gets wet when it rains' because when the if/when-clause comes second, no comma is needed, and both clauses use the present simple tense as required by the zero conditional.
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Q10 15
Question 10: Dogs bark if they ___ danger nearby.
Question 10 options
Check answer
'sense' is correct because the zero conditional expresses a general truth, requiring the present simple tense in the if-clause. 'will sense' is a future form, 'sensed' is past simple, and 'are sensing' is present continuous — none are correct in the zero conditional.
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Q11 15
Question 11: Which statement about the zero conditional is true?
Question 11 options
Check answer
'When' can replace 'if' in zero conditional sentences without changing the meaning because both introduce a condition that is always true. The zero conditional is not used for future possibilities or past events, and it does not require 'will' in either clause.
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Q12 15
Question 12: Rewrite using 'unless': 'If you don't wear a coat, you feel cold.' → '___ you wear a coat, you feel cold.'
Question 12 options
Check answer
'Unless' is correct because 'unless' means 'if not', so 'Unless you wear a coat' is equivalent to 'If you don't wear a coat.' The other options ('Even if', 'When', 'Although') change the meaning and cannot replace 'if not' in the same way.
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Q13 15
Question 13: Match each sentence to the correct grammar label.
Question 13 options
If you press this button, the machine stops.
The machine stops if you press this button.
When you heat metal, it expands.
Unless you water plants, they die.
Zero conditional: if-clause second, no comma
Zero conditional: 'when' replacing 'if' for general truth
Zero conditional: 'unless' meaning 'if not'
Zero conditional: if-clause first, with comma
Select an item on the left, then tap its match on the right.
Check answer
The zero conditional uses present simple in both clauses for general truths. The if-clause can come first (with comma) or second (no comma). 'Unless' replaces 'if not', and 'when' can replace 'if' to express the same general truth.
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Q14 15
Question 14: In the zero conditional, when the if-clause comes first in the sentence, a comma must be placed after it.
Question 14 options
Check answer
True because the rule states that if the if-clause comes first, a comma is used to separate the two clauses (e.g., 'If you heat ice, it melts.'). When the if-clause comes second, no comma is needed.
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Q15 15
Question 15: Which sentence best expresses a fixed, scientific truth using the zero conditional?
Question 15 options
Check answer
'If you mix red and white, you get pink' is correct because it uses present simple in both clauses to state a scientific fact that is always true — this is the core use of the zero conditional. The other options use 'will', which shifts the meaning to a future possibility (first conditional).
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