History of a term.

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Help needed.

Does anyone know where the term "zero conditional" comes from and why we use it for labeling the "unchanging Laws of Existence" conditional?
What does that "zero" mean?

(Looking for a bit of etymology here and not a desription of zero conditionals per se.)

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It refers to the convention that "things will happen under certain circumstances" - ie if 'this' condition is met, then 'this' outcome will occur. It would be the opposite to an 'and/or' situation - there is only ONE outcome.

Etymology? You got me there....

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Mr Stillwater wrote:

It refers to the convention that "things will happen under certain circumstances" - ie if 'this' condition is met, then 'this' outcome will occur. It would be the opposite to an 'and/or' situation - there is only ONE outcome.

Etymology? You got me there....

Thanks. Yes, that's how i understood the use to be, but could I do this:

If/When I heated water to 100ºC, it boiled. (past simple + past simple)

Would one call that an example of the zero conditional?

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No - a zero conditional would be:

Quote:

When water is heated to 100C, it will boil.

The expectation is that in every instance of this occuring, it will occur.

You have piqued my interest, M56. I will probably track this one down for you - we librarians are relentless people, doncha know?

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History of a term.

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