"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假使jiǎ shǐ … ，then / just就jiù … (if / supposing)

Supposing it happened

• In a philosophy class you imagine an unlikely situation.
• if假使jiǎ shǐ人能活rén néng huó两百岁liǎng bǎi suì，to live生活shēng huócan / will会huìto be / is是shìwhat什么shén meappearance样子yàng zi？ – "Supposing people could live to two hundred, what would life be like?"

if假使jiǎ shǐ A，(then / just就jiù) B = if, supposing

• if假使jiǎ shǐ = "if, supposing", a literary if如果rú guǒ, often for hypothetical or unlikely situations.
• The result clause may take then / just就jiù / used in 便宜便biàn / also也yě.

supposing假使jiǎ shǐtomorrow明天míng tiānit rains下雨xià yǔ，the match比赛bǐ sàithen就jiùis cancelled取消qǔ xiāo。

Imagined and formal conditions

• if假使jiǎ shǐnot have / haven't没有méi yǒuyou你nǐ(modifier / structural particle)的deassistance帮助bāng zhù，I / me我wǒthen / just就jiùimprobable不会bú huìsuccess成功chéng gōng。 – "Had it not been for your help, I would not have succeeded."
• Common in essays, speeches and literature.

if假使jiǎ shǐwithout没有méi yǒuyour你nǐ的dehelp帮助bāng zhù，I我wǒthen就jiùwouldn't不会bú huìsucceed成功chéng gōng。

Literary register

• In everyday speech, use if如果rú guǒ / if要是yào shi: if要是yào shitomorrow明天míng tiānto rain下雨xià yǔ，….
• Put then / just就jiù after the subject of the result: I / me我wǒthen / just就jiùimprobable不会bú huì…, not then / just就jiùI / me我wǒimprobable不会bú huì….

The "if" family

• if要是yào shi (spoken) → if如果rú guǒ (neutral) → if假如jiǎ rú / if假使jiǎ shǐ / if倘若tǎng ruò (literary).
• All pair with then / just就jiù in the result.

if要是yào shiyou你nǐhave有yǒutime时间shí jiān，then就jiùcome来lái吧ba。

Recap

• if假使jiǎ shǐ A，(Subject) then / just就jiù B = if / supposing A (literary, often hypothetical).
• Everyday: if如果rú guǒ / if要是yào shi; literary relatives: if假如jiǎ rú, if倘若tǎng ruò.

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假使jiǎ shǐ … ，then / just就jiù … (if / supposing)

1001.1 Complete: “Supposing it rains, the match will be cancelled.” if假使jiǎ shǐto rain下雨xià yǔ，competition (sports etc)比赛bǐ sài…………to cancel取消qǔ xiāo。

1001.2 Which “if” is the most spoken?

• A. if倘若tǎng ruò
• B. if假如jiǎ rú
• C. if要是yào shi
• D. if假使jiǎ shǐ

1001.3 Build: “Had it not been for your help, I wouldn't have succeeded.”

Arrange all chunks: ， / if假使jiǎ shǐnot have / haven't没有méi yǒuyou你nǐ(modifier / structural particle)的deassistance帮助bāng zhù / I / me我wǒthen / just就jiù / improbable不会bú huìsuccess成功chéng gōng。

1001.4 if假使jiǎ shǐ suits formal essays better than casual chat.

True or false? Explain or repair the statement.

1001.5 In a philosophy class you imagine an unlikely situation. 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 learner sees if假使jiǎ shǐtomorrow明天míng tiānto stop classes停课tíng kè，we / us我们wǒ menthen / just就jiùto be at home在家zài jiāto learn学习xué xí and reports that class cancellation is confirmed. Repair it.

R2. Use it yourself. State a fallback arrangement if a venue is unavailable, using if假使jiǎ shǐ.

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