English
Zero and First Conditionals
Updated Oct 28, 2026
Distinguish general results from possible future results.
What you’ll learn
Distinguish general results from possible future results.
បែងចែកលទ្ធផលទូទៅពីលទ្ធផលអនាគតដែលអាចកើតមាន។
Meaning and use
Zero conditionals commonly use present forms in both clauses to describe general relationships. First conditionals often use if + present simple with will, a modal, or an imperative in the result. They describe a real future possibility, not a guaranteed event.
Zero conditional ពិពណ៌នាទំនាក់ទំនងទូទៅ។ First conditional បង្ហាញលទ្ធផលនៃលក្ខខណ្ឌអនាគតដែលអាចកើតមាន ដោយប្រើ present tense ក្រោយ if។
Grammar patterns
| Pattern | Example or form |
|---|---|
| General relationship | if + present, present |
| Possible future | if + present, will/can/may + base |
Examples
-
If water freezes, it expands.
បើទឹកកក វារីកមាឌ។
-
If I drink coffee late, I sleep badly.
បើខ្ញុំផឹកកាហ្វេយប់ ខ្ញុំគេងមិនលក់ស្រួលទេ។
-
If it rains tomorrow, we will stay home.
បើស្អែកភ្លៀង យើងនឹងនៅផ្ទះ។
-
Call me if you need help.
ទូរស័ព្ទមកខ្ញុំ បើអ្នកត្រូវការជំនួយ។
Everyday conversation
Dara: What will we do if the bus is late?
Maly: If it is late, we can take a taxi.
Common mistakes
| Instead of | Use | Why |
|---|---|---|
| If it will rain tomorrow, we will stay in. (ordinary prediction) | If it rains tomorrow, we will stay in. | Use a present form in this ordinary future condition. |
| If he arrive, call me. | If he arrives, call me. | He takes arrives in the present simple. |
Practice
Try these questions before opening the answers. Write or say each answer.
សាកល្បងឆ្លើយសំណួរទាំងនេះជាមុនសិន មុននឹងបើកមើលចម្លើយ។ អ្នកអាចសរសេរ ឬនិយាយចម្លើយរបស់អ្នក។
- Complete: If she ___ (finish) early tomorrow, she will call.
- Which is general: If you heat ice, it melts. / If it rains tomorrow, we will cancel.
- Join: You need help. Ask the teacher. Use if.
Answers and explanations
Show answers / បង្ហាញចម្លើយ
-
finishes
The future condition uses present simple.
-
If you heat ice, it melts.
It describes a general relationship.
-
If you need help, ask the teacher.
An imperative can be the result clause.
Quick recap
- General relationship: if + present, present
- Possible future: if + present, will/can/may + base