Teaching guidelines +/- 15 minutes

Learn the Italian zero conditional with phrases like "Se dai" (If you give) and "ti contatto" (I contact you). This lesson covers expressing general truths using present indicative verbs for cause and effect.
  1. In the zero conditional, the consequence always occurs when the condition is met.
  2. The sentence begins with "se".
Formula (Formula)Esempio (Example)
Se + presente indicativo + presente indicativo.Se dai il numero di telefono, ti contatto. (If you give the phone number, I contact you.)
Se + presente indicativo + presente indicativoSe invii la mail, ricevi la risposta. (If you send the email, you receive the reply.)
Se + presente indicativo + presente indicativoSe vive in Italia, è italiano. (If he/she lives in Italy, he/she is Italian.)

Exercise 1: Il condizionale zero

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Show translation Show answers

scrivi, vivi, dai, usate, invio, vive, chiami, contattiamo

1.
Se ..., lui risponde sempre.
(If you call, he always answers.)
2.
Se ... la lettera oggi, arriva domani.
(If I send the letter today, it arrives tomorrow.)
3.
Se ... la lettera, la leggo subito.
(If you write the letter, I read it immediately.)
4.
Se ... il numero, ti contatto subito.
(If you give the number, I will contact you immediately.)
5.
Se ... il cliente, ci risponde subito.
(If we contact the customer, he replies immediately.)
6.
Se ... qui, conosci l'indirizzo.
(If you live here, you know the address.)
7.
Se ... in Spagna, parla spagnolo.
(He lives in Spain, he speaks Spanish.)
8.
Se ... il prefisso giusto, funziona tutto.
(If you use the right prefix, everything works.)

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct solution

1. Se ___ il numero di telefono, ti chiamo subito.

(If ___ the phone number, I'll call you right away.)

2. Se ___ la mail, ricevi una risposta veloce.

(If ___ the email, you receive a quick reply.)

3. Se ___ in Italia, sei italiano.

(If ___ in Italy, you are Italian.)

4. Se ___ l'indirizzo, te lo danno subito.

(If ___ for the address, they give it to you right away.)

5. Se ___ il telefono, chiami un amico.

(If ___ the phone, you call a friend.)

6. Se ___ bene, vedi l'indirizzo sulla carta.

(If ___ carefully, you see the address on the card.)

Understanding the "Zero Conditional" in Italian

This lesson focuses on the Italian "condizionale zero," which expresses general truths and habitual actions. Unlike other conditionals that speculate or express possibilities, the zero conditional describes situations where the result always follows if the condition is met.

Structure of the Zero Conditional

The formula for the zero conditional is straightforward: the sentence starts with se (meaning "if"), followed by two verbs in the present indicative tense.

FormulaExample
Se + present indicative + present indicative.Se dai il numero di telefono, ti contatto.
Se + present indicative + present indicative.Se invii la mail, ricevi la risposta.
Se + present indicative + present indicative.Se vive in Italia, è italiano.

When to Use the Zero Conditional

Use this structure to state facts that are generally or always true, habits, or natural consequences. For example, "If you give the phone number, I call you immediately" (Se dai il numero di telefono, ti chiamo subito).

Key Expressions and Vocabulary

  • Se – if
  • Dare (dai) – to give
  • Chiamare (chiamo/chiami) – to call
  • Inviare (invi) – to send
  • Ricevere (ricevi) – to receive
  • Vivere (vive/vivi) – to live

Differences Between English and Italian Conditionals

In English, the zero conditional also uses the simple present tense for both the condition and the result, for example: "If you heat ice, it melts." This directly corresponds to the Italian structure using the present indicative for both verbs. Both languages often start these sentences with "if" (or "se" in Italian), making the zero conditional intuitive across the two languages.

Useful phrases to remember:

  • Se + present indicative, present indicative. – Exactly like "If + present simple, present simple" in English.
  • Ti chiamo subito. – I call you immediately.
  • Ricevi una risposta veloce. – You receive a quick answer.

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Fabio Pirioni

Bachelor in Humanities

University of Udine

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Last Updated:

Friday, 18/07/2025 03:15