If people do not apply sunscreen, they "will" get sunburnt - use the first conditional to talk about things that are generally true?

Question

Example 1

(1) If you turn the heat to high and fry the onions without stirring,　you burn the onions.

(2) If people do not apply sunscreen, they get sunburnt.

Example 2

(1) If you turn the heat to high and fry the onions without stirring, you will burn the onions.

(2) If people do not apply sunscreen, they will get sunburnt.

We use the zero conditional to talk about things that are generally true, and we use the first conditional to talk about future situations.

Can we use the first conditional to talk about things that are generally true like Example 2?

Answer 1

I would say that all four of the sentences in the question are valid, and the two in "Example 2" carry much the same meanings as the corresponding two in "Example 1". I would not agree that the forms using "will" indicate a greater degree of certainty, assurance, or probability then the forms where "will" is omitted. I will say that I prefer the forms that use "will", and think they are better writing in any circumstance I can think of.

I neither know nor care which of this fits the "first conditional". The use of the "numbered" conditional forms nei6thre captures all the valid forms, nor do I find it generally helpful. Particularly when a learner assumes that the numbered forms are the only valid choices, the device is harmful. In any case learners should understand that no native speaker ever learns conditionals in this way, and no fluent speaker is limited to the numbered forms.

See https://ell.stackexchange.com/a/334537/91457

Both the forms

• If {X} you {verb} Y
• If {X} you will {verb} Y

express a general rule, or a confident prediction (either form may be used for either case). Both are dealing with possible future action.