What Will Happen?
Zero Conditional
Use the zero conditional if an action always occurs as the result of another action. The zero conditional is used to express conditions that are always true.
Example:
The police clear public areas of people if the president is going to speak.
"If a female employee has any supervisory skills at all, he always promotes her."
The present simple is used in both the 'if' clause and the result clause.
'If' clause - present simple + , + result clause - present simple
The police clear public areas of people if the president is going to speak.
"If a female employee has any supervisory skills at all, he always promotes her."
Do not use a comma, when placing the result clause first.
Tom sneezes if he works with spices.
First Conditional
Use the first, or 'real', conditional if an action will occur if something happens. The first conditional is used when a result is realistically possible.
'If' clause - present simple + , + result clause - future with will
The food cost invoices will arrive on Monday if we mail them tonight.
The front desk personnel will provide excellent customer service if we pay them well.
Do not use a comma, when placing the result clause first.
She will offer various types of lodging if the customers don't state their specific needs.
'Unless' is also used in the first conditional to mean 'if not'.
If he doesn't come soon, we won't go to lunch = Unless he comes, we won't go to lunch.
Use of 'May' and 'Might' in the First Conditional
When a future result is not certain based on a condition, use 'may' or 'might'.
'If' clause - present simple + , + result clause - 'may / might' + verb
The front desk personnel will provide excellent customer service if we pay them well.
Ecotourism might make up for the loss in profits if the advertising campaign is successful.