The conditional

What is the Spanish zero conditional?

• We use the zero conditional to talk about things that are always true when a condition is met.
• It is like saying in English: “If you do X, Y happens.”

Form in Spanish:

• si + present indicative + present indicative

Examples:

• Si estudias español, aprendes vocabulario.
  If you study Spanish, you learn vocabulary.
• Si escribes bien el correo electrónico, recibes la respuesta.
  If you write the email correctly, you receive the reply.

Step 1 – See the basic formula clearly

• Both verbs are in present indicative.
• No future, no “will” in Spanish in this structure.

Step 2 – Meaning: when do we use it?

Use the zero conditional for:

• General truths and facts
  Si restas diez menos cinco, tienes cinco.
  If you subtract ten minus five, you have five.
• Routines and typical results
  Si practicas español, mejoras tu español.
  If you practise Spanish, you improve your Spanish.
• Instructions and rules
  Si usas el código postal correcto, la carta llega.
  If you use the correct postal code, the letter arrives.

The idea: every time the condition is true, the result happens.

Step 3 – Word order and commas

You can put the si-clause first or second.

• Si-clause first:
  Si escribes la dirección electrónica bien, recibes el mensaje.
  → Use a comma between the two parts.
• Si-clause second:
  Recibes el mensaje si escribes la dirección electrónica bien.
  → No comma here.

Meaning does not change; only the order changes.

Step 4 – Compare with English: avoid a common mistake

In English you often say:

• If you write your email correctly, the company will send you a confirmation.

In Spanish, with this type of fact / rule, you use present + present:

• Si escribes bien tu correo electrónico, la empresa te envía la confirmación.

Do not copy the English “will”:

• Si escribes bien tu correo electrónico, la empresa te enviará la confirmación. – grammatically possible, but it feels more like a specific future situation, not a general rule.

For clear, general, rule-like sentences in this unit: keep it simple → present + present.

Step 5 – Verbs after “si”: keep the present indicative

A frequent confusion is with the subjunctive. At A1 here, you do not need it.

• Zero conditional: si + present indicative
  Si das tu número de móvil, alguien puede contactarte.
• Si des tu número de móvil, alguien puede contactarte. → Wrong for this use and level.

Self-check:

• Look at the verb after si.
• Ask: “Is it in the present indicative (simple present form)?”
• If yes → you are using the right tense for this structure.

Step 6 – Regular verb endings you will see here

Most examples in this topic use regular verbs in the present.

Typical pattern in this unit:

• Si + tú-form + tú / él / ella / yo-form in the result.

Example:

• Si envías el correo hoy, yo recibo la confirmación.

Step 7 – Typical communication contexts

In this chapter, zero conditional often appears in:

• Forms and registration
  Si das tu número de teléfono correcto, el médico puede llamarte.
• Emails and online accounts
  Si escribes la arroba en la dirección electrónica, el correo llega sin problema.
• Administrative procedures
  Si presentas el pasaporte, ellos buscan tus datos en el sistema.

This is very close to professional life: HR, town halls, clinics, companies, etc.

Step 8 – Step‑by‑step: build your own sentence

1. Think of a condition in your work or daily life.
   Example idea: “If you write the postal code correctly…”
2. Put it in Spanish with si + present.
   → Si escribes bien el código postal…
3. Decide the consequence.
   Example idea: “the letter arrives at your house.”
4. Put the consequence in present.
   → …la carta llega a tu casa.
5. Join and check the form:
   Si escribes bien el código postal, la carta llega a tu casa.

Quick self‑check:

• Is there a si?
• Is the verb just after si in the present?
• Is the second verb also in the present?
• Is there a comma if the si-part is first?

Step 9 – Spot and correct typical mistakes

Look at these and mentally correct them.

• Si escribes bien tu correo electrónico, la empresa te responderá.
  → Si escribes bien tu correo electrónico, la empresa te responde.
• Si escribas la arroba, el email es válido.
  → Si escribes la arroba, el email es válido.
• Si escribes bien tu correo electrónico . la empresa te responde.
  → Si escribes bien tu correo electrónico, la empresa te responde.

Notice the three things to avoid:

• Future instead of present for a general rule.
• Subjunctive form (escribas) after si in this structure.
• Point instead of comma when si-clause comes first.

Step 10 – Quick self‑test: what can you do now?

You are ready to continue when you can say “yes” to these questions:

• Can I form a sentence with si + present + present without looking at the rule?
• Can I explain in English that this is for general truths and typical results?
• Can I talk about forms, emails or phone numbers using this pattern?
  Example: Si das tu número de móvil correcto, alguien puede contactarte.
• Can I avoid using will, future or subjunctive in these sentences?

If not, choose 2–3 situations from your own life (work, studies, administration) and write one zero conditional sentence for each. Say them aloud a few times.

Once these feel automatic, you are ready to use them confidently in conversation.