"If" statements

Original teaching practice. Read one pattern, cover its model and try the questions before checking the separate answer section. Examples adapted from Chinese Grammar Wiki (AllSet Learning, CC BY-NC-SA) retain the course-reference provenance.

if要是yào shi … ，then / just就jiù … (if – spoken)

If I'd known

• Your friend didn't tell you about the party, and you would have loved to go.
• if要是yào shiyou你nǐearly早zǎoto tell告诉gào sùI / me我wǒ，I / me我wǒthen / just就jiùto go去qù(completed / change)了le。 – "If you'd told me earlier, I would have gone."

if要是yào shi A，(Subject) then / just就jiù B

• if要是yào shi = "if", the spoken partner of if如果rú guǒ. The result clause takes then / just就jiù after its subject.
• if (coming after a…的话de huà can close the condition: if要是yào shiyou你nǐto have time (to do sth)有空yǒu kòngif (coming after a…的话de huà，then / just就jiùto come来lái(suggestion)吧ba.

if要是yào shiyou你nǐare free有空yǒu kòng，then就jiùcome来lái吧ba。

Real and unreal conditions

• Possible: if要是yào shitomorrow明天míng tiān不下雨bù xià yǔ，we / us我们wǒ menthen / just就jiùto go去qùto climb a mountain爬山pá shān。 – "If it doesn't rain tomorrow, we'll go hiking."
• Past, unreal: if要是yào shiI / me我wǒ早点儿zǎo diǎn érto go out出门chū mén，then / just就jiùimprobable不会bú huìto arrive late迟到chí dào(completed / change)了le。 – "If I'd left earlier, I wouldn't have been late."

if要是yào shiI我wǒearlier早zǎoa bit点儿diǎnrleft出门chū mén，then就jiùwouldn't不会bú huìbe late迟到chí dào了le。

then / just就jiù after the subject

• Subject first, then then / just就jiù: I / me我wǒthen / just就jiùto go去qù, not then / just就jiùI / me我wǒto go去qù.
• if要是yào shi is spoken; in an essay, if如果rú guǒ or if假如jiǎ rú sounds better.

if要是yào shi versus if如果rú guǒ and if only只要zhǐ yào

• if如果rú guǒ is neutral and written: if如果rú guǒto have / there is有yǒuquestion问题wèn tí，to ask请qǐngconnection联系lián xìI / me我wǒ.
• if only只要zhǐ yào…then / just就jiù = as long as (the condition is enough): if only只要zhǐ yàoto have time (to do sth)有空yǒu kòng，I / me我wǒthen / just就jiùto come来lái.

if如果rú guǒthere are有yǒuquestions问题wèn tí，please请qǐngcontact联系lián xìme我wǒ。

Recap

• if要是yào shi A (if (coming after a…的话de huà)，Subject + then / just就jiù B = if A, then B (spoken).
• Also for unreal past conditions (then / just就jiùimprobable不会bú huì…(completed / change)了le); if如果rú guǒ is the neutral/written form.

Practise this pattern step by step.

Practice without the models

Choose a pattern, cover its teaching examples, and attempt its questions. Use the labels to find feedback in the separate key.

if要是yào shi … ，then / just就jiù … (if – spoken)

1701.1 Complete (spoken): “If you're tired, have a rest.” …………you你nǐrope累lèi(completed / change)了le，then / just就jiùrest休息xiū xī(used after a verb) give it…一下yī xià。

1701.2 Which sentence is correct?

• A. if要是yào shito rain下雨xià yǔ，then / just就jiùwe / us我们wǒ men不去bù qù。
• B. we / us我们wǒ menwill就要jiù yàoto be / is是shìto rain下雨xià yǔ不去bù qù。
• C. if要是yào shito rain下雨xià yǔ，we / us我们wǒ menthen / just就jiùnot不bùto go去qù。
• D. if要是yào shito rain下雨xià yǔ，we / us我们wǒ mennot不bùthen / just就jiùto go去qù。

1701.3 Build: “If I'd left earlier, I wouldn't have been late.”

Arrange all chunks: ， / to arrive late迟到chí dào(completed / change)了le。 / then / just就jiùimprobable不会bú huì / if要是yào shiI / me我wǒ早点儿zǎo diǎn érto go out出门chū mén

1701.4 if如果rú guǒ suits formal writing better than if要是yào shi.

True or false? Explain or repair the statement.

1701.5 Your friend didn't tell you about the party, and you would have loved to go. Close the examples. Say a Mandarin response, then write it in Chinese. Explain briefly in English what the lesson’s pattern adds. Compare with the model, then change one detail and try again.

Write or say your own response before reading the key.

A fresh situation

R1. Interpret and repair. A friend says if要是yào shiyou你nǐto have / there is有yǒu(concept of) time时间shí jiān，we / us我们wǒ menso / therefore所以suǒ yǐin the same place一起yì qǐto go去qù. Repair the paired result clause.

R2. Use it yourself. Invite someone for tea if they finish early, while keeping the condition uncertain.

Write your responses before opening the key. Compare meaning as well as form; a different valid answer need not copy the model.