Zero conditional for explaining business processes and cause-effect
1. Warm-up discussion
Discuss these questions:
- What is a 'procedure'? Can you give an example of a simple procedure at work or school?
- Why is it important for companies to have clear procedures for things like orders, payments, and customer complaints?
- What can happen if a work procedure is not clear?
2. Key vocabulary for work procedures
Drag the terms from the word bank to match them with their correct definitions.
3. Listening: Order process
Listen to a manager explaining their company's order procedure. Fill in the gaps with the words you hear.
If we an order, we immediately send a confirmation e-mail. If a customer doesn't within 24 hours, our team follows up with a call. When we payment, we release the product for shipping. If the product is out of stock, we the customer and offer an alternative. We always prioritize efficiency. So if a step is unclear, we the process. This ensures smooth operations.
4. Grammar focus: The zero conditional
We use the zero conditional to talk about facts, habits, rules, and procedures. It describes a cause and effect that is always true.
The structure is:
If / When + Present Simple, ... Present Simple.
Example 1: "If you heat water to 100 degrees, it boils." (This is a scientific fact).
Example 2: "When we get payment, we release the product for shipping." (This is a work procedure or rule).
You can also reverse the order: Present Simple + if/when + Present Simple.
Example 3: "We release the product for shipping when we get payment." (No comma is needed).
5. Grammar practice: Completing procedures
Choose the correct verb form to complete the sentences.
1. If I get an alert, I _____ it immediately.
2. When the system crashes, it _____ an automatic report.
3. If you _____ this button, the program saves the file.
4. If a package arrives, the receptionist _____ for it.
5. When I make a mistake, I _____ it.
6. We start the next phase of the project if the client _____ the current one.
6. Practice: Sentence scramble
Put the words in the correct order to make zero conditional sentences.
1. a customer has a complaint, / create a support ticket / we / if
2. is overdue, / the system / when an invoice / sends a reminder
3. I contact / if the server / the IT department / goes down,
7. Speaking practice: Explaining a process
Work with a partner. Choose one of the scenarios below and explain the procedure to your partner, who is a new employee. Use the zero conditional and vocabulary from this lesson.
- How to request a day off.
- What to do if your computer isn't working.
- How to submit an expense report for a business trip.
Useful Phrases
- First, if you want to..., you...
- When you need to..., the first step is...
- If that happens, we always...
- When the system confirms the request, it...
- Make sure you follow up if...