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ESL forum > Ask for help > First or zero conditional    

First or zero conditional



caren_630
Egypt

First or zero conditional
 
Which is the correct sentence and why? If you go to Paris, you will see the Eiffel tower. If you go to Paris, you see the Eiffel tower.

22 Apr 2016      





kiscsepo
Hungary

As far as I know, in the main clause you can use simple future if you want to refer to a future action.
 
You can even use simple present in the main clause too if you intend to express a general truth that will always happen. E.g. If water reaches 100 degrees, it boils. So we are talking about this phenomenon in general. It is a known fact and not a particular situation. So in my view, the second sentence can be good only in this way:
"If you go to Paris, you can see the Eiffel Tower." (It is not absolutely sure that in Paris you will see the Eiffel Tower).

22 Apr 2016     



Gi2gi
Georgia

Agree with kiscepo, as some grammarians might put it, your question deals with the difference between the so called zero and first conditional sentences. You might consider doing a Google search for that. Cheers. Giorgi

22 Apr 2016     



gharbi2009
Tunisia

zero conditional is usually used when dealing with scientific facts.

25 Apr 2016