אם … (if …)

An invitation depends on free time

• A friend invites you to come if you are available.
• if如果rú guǒhave有yǒutime时间shí jiān(if)的话de huà，then就jiùcome来lái(suggestion)吧ba。 — (if)的话de huà closes the stated condition before the invitation.

Build the form

• The pattern in this lesson is if如果rú guǒ … (if)的话de huà (if …). Locate it in the original interlinear examples below.
• Keep the words in their demonstrated positions; the pattern must fit the intended situation as well as the sentence form.

if如果rú guǒhave有yǒutime时间shí jiān(if)的话de huà，then就jiùcome来lái吧ba。

Read examples in context

• In the opening example, if如果rú guǒhave有yǒutime时间shí jiān(if)的话de huà，then就jiùcome来lái(suggestion)吧ba。: (if)的话de huà closes the stated condition before the invitation.
• Explain who acts, what is described and which time or group is relevant before choosing an English paraphrase.

Know the boundary

• if如果rú guǒhave有yǒutime时间shí jiān，then就jiùcome来lái(suggestion)吧ba is also natural.
• (if)的话de huà is optional in this frame; it does not guarantee a polite tone regardless of the rest of the sentence.

Use the distinction

Read the full reference: HSK 3 grammar — Complex sentence patterns.