Zero Conditional Practice- Advice for Parents

Zero Conditional Practice- Advice for Parents

Complete one of the sentences below with a positive or negative imperative (“don’t…”), a
modal such as “(really) should”, “can”, “could (possibly)”, “have to” or “don’t have to”, or a
statement about the possible (positive or negative) consequences to make what you think
is a true statement about children and parents. Does your partner agree with your
statement? If so, can they add any similar advice? If not, can they make similar but better
advice?

Useful phrases for responding to your partner’s advice
“I (totally) agree.”
“That may be a true/ good idea, but I would say…”
“I’m not sure I’d say that. How about…?”
“I think that’s a bit too strong. I’d change it to…”

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If a boy rarely sees his father,…

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If your child doesn't seem to want to talk about their day at school,…

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If a child starts dreaming about computer games,…

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If a child occasionally has fights with other children at school,…

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If a child often has grazed knees and elbows,…

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If a child spends a lot of time with technology,…

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If children don't have brothers and sisters,…

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If children get lots of colds and other minor illnesses when they are young,…

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If children go to single-sex schools,…

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If children study English from when they are really young then stop,…

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If one parent always speaks a second language such as English to their child,…

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If parents are always really strict with their children,…

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If parents don’t push their children to succeed,…

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If parents force reluctant children to learn a musical instrument,…

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If parents keep their houses really really clean,…

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If parents pay children to do household chores,…

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If parents resist buying their children all the latest things,…

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If parents stop children from eating sweet things,…

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If parents who often argue get divorced,…

Written by Alex Case for UsingEnglish.com © 2015

Find advice below which you agree with or disagree with. Does your partner have the
same opinion? Can you change the advice to make it better?

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If a boy rarely sees his father, he has problems growing up to be a man.

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If your child doesn't seem to want to talk about their day at school, don’t force it, just

wait until they are ready to talk.

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If a child starts dreaming about computer games, the parents should force them to

stop for a week or two.

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If a child occasionally has fights with other children at school, that is nothing to worry

about.

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If a child often has scratched knees and elbows, that is just a normal part of growing

up.

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If a child spends a lot of time with technology, that gives them the skills they will need

in their adult life.

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If children don't have brothers and sisters, they become selfish.

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If children get lots of colds and other minor illnesses when they are young, they get

sick less often when they grow up.

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If children go to single-sex schools, they never learn how to communicate properly

with the other sex.

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If children study English from when they are really young then stop, they totally forget

everything that they learnt.

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If one parent always speaks a second language such as English to their child, that

parent is often unable to form a normal relationship with their child.

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If parents are always really strict with their children, they grow up thinking that their

parents don’t love them.

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If parents don’t push their children to succeed, the children regret that when they grow

up.

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If parents force reluctant children to learn a musical instrument, the children are

usually thankful for that when they grow up.



If parents keep their houses really really clean, their children more easily get sick when

they go out and mix with other kids.

Written by Alex Case for UsingEnglish.com © 2015

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If parents pay children to do household chores, the children learn the value of hard

work and money.

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If parents resist buying their children all the latest things, the children can’t fit in with

their peers.

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If parents stop children from eating sweet things, they just become even more

interested in unhealthy food.

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If parents who often argue get divorced, it is sometimes better for the children.

Discuss any statements above which you disagreed with as a class.

What forms go after the comma above?

Find an example of each of these:

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Imperative

-

Negative imperative

-

Modal verb

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Present Simple

Written by Alex Case for UsingEnglish.com © 2015