Conditional Statements

• 13 Conditional Statements

  PDF (EN) 2-up

  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 only只要zhǐ yào … ，then / just就jiù … (as long as)

  If the weather holds

  • A friend is worried about tomorrow's picnic. You only need one thing to go right.
  • if only只要zhǐ yào不下雨bù xià yǔ，we / us我们wǒ menthen / just就jiùto go去qùpicnic野餐yě cān。 — "As long as it doesn't rain, we'll go on the picnic."

  if only只要zhǐ yào + condition，then / just就jiù + result

  • if only只要zhǐ yào A，then / just就jiù B = "as long as A, then B": A is enough for B to happen.
  • if only只要zhǐ yào opens the first clause; then / just就jiù comes after the subject of the second.

  as long as只要zhǐ yàoyou你nǐwork hard努力nǔ lì，then就jiùcan能nénglearn well学好xué hǎo。

  

  Encouragement and easy conditions

  • if only只要zhǐ yàoevery day每天měi tiānto practice练习liàn xí，you你nǐ(modifier / structural particle)的deChinese language中文zhōng wénthen / just就jiùcan / will会huìmore and more越来越yuè lái yuègood好hǎo。 — "As long as you practise every day, your Chinese will keep improving."
  • if only只要zhǐ yàoto have / there is有yǒu(concept of) time时间shí jiān，I / me我wǒthen / just就jiùto go去qùto see看kànyou你nǐ。 — "Whenever I have time, I'll come and see you."

  as long as只要zhǐ yàohave有yǒutime时间shí jiān，I我wǒthen就jiùgo去qùsee看kànyou你nǐ。

  then / just就jiù after the subject

  • Put then / just就jiù after the subject of the second clause: if only只要zhǐ yàoyou你nǐto come来lái，I / me我wǒthen / just就jiùhappy高兴gāo xìng, not then / just就jiùI / me我wǒhappy高兴gāo xìng.
  • if only只要zhǐ yào means the condition is enough; for "only if" (a necessary condition), use only have ...只有zhǐ yǒu…only then / not until才cái….

  if only只要zhǐ yào…then / just就jiù versus only have ...只有zhǐ yǒu…only then / not until才cái

  • if only只要zhǐ yào A then / just就jiù B: A is sufficient, it is easy: if only只要zhǐ yàowell-off有钱yǒu qiánthen / just就jiùcan / be able to能néngto buy买mǎi.
  • only have ...只有zhǐ yǒu A only then / not until才cái B: A is the only way: only have ...只有zhǐ yǒuto make an effort努力nǔ lì，talent才能cái néngsuccess成功chéng gōng。 — "Only through hard work can you succeed."

  only if只有zhǐ yǒuwork hard努力nǔ lì，only then才cáican能néngsucceed成功chéng gōng。

  Recap

  • if only只要zhǐ yào A，(Subject) then / just就jiù B = as long as A, then B (A is enough).
  • then / just就jiù follows the subject. A necessary condition uses only have ...只有zhǐ yǒu…only then / not until才cái….

  Practise this pattern step by step.

  … ，only then / not until才cái … (only then / only after)

  Only after you finish

  • Your parents have one rule about screen time on school nights.
  • you你nǐ做完作业zuò wán zuò yè，talent才能cái néng玩游戏wán yóu xì。 — "You can only play games after you finish your homework."

  Condition，Subject + only then / not until才cái + Verb

  • A，only then / not until才cái B = "only after / only if A, B": B depends on A happening first.
  • only then / not until才cái follows the subject of the second clause and often goes with can / be able to能néng or can / will会huì: talent才能cái néng, only then / not until才cáican / will会huì.

  you你nǐfinish做完zuò wánhomework作业zuò yè，only then才cáican能néngplay玩wángames游戏yóu xì。

  

  Effort before a result

  • you你nǐmany多duōvariant of 说说shuō，talent才能cái néngto come to an agreement说好shuō hǎo。 — "Only by speaking a lot will you speak well."
  • I / me我wǒto ask问wèn(completed / change)了lehe / him他tāthird三次sān cì，he / him他tāonly then / not until才cáito tell告诉gào sùI / me我wǒ。 — "I asked him three times before he told me."

  I我wǒasked问wèn了lehim他tāthree times三次sān cì，he他tāonly then才cáitold告诉gào sume我wǒ。

  Place only then / not until才cái before the result predicate

  • Put only then / not until才cái after the subject of the result: he / him他tāonly then / not until才cáito tell告诉gào sùI / me我wǒ, not only then / not until才cáihe / him他tāto tell告诉gào sùI / me我wǒ.
  • The simple result model here is he / him他tāonly then / not until才cáito tell告诉gào sùI / me我wǒ. Other contexts can allow (completed / change)了le; the whole construction matters.

  Stronger with only have ...只有zhǐ yǒu

  • Adding only have ...只有zhǐ yǒu explicitly makes this a necessary condition: only have ...只有zhǐ yǒu做完作业zuò wán zuò yè，talent才能cái néng玩游戏wán yóu xì。
  • Without only have ...只有zhǐ yǒu, …only then / not until才cái… still implies the condition must come first.

  only if只有zhǐ yǒufinish做完zuò wánhomework作业zuò yè，only then才cáican能néngplay玩wán。

  Recap

  • A，Subject + only then / not until才cái (can / be able to能néng/can / will会huì) + B = only after / only if A, B.
  • only then / not until才cái follows the subject in this frame; only have ...只有zhǐ yǒu makes the condition necessary, without guaranteeing the result by itself.

  Practise this pattern step by step.

  only have ...只有zhǐ yǒu … ，only then / not until才cái … (only if)

  The only way in

  • The building door needs a code, and only residents know it.
  • only have ...只有zhǐ yǒuto know知道zhī dàocipher密码mì mǎ，talent才能cái néngto go in进去jìn qù。 — "Only if you know the code can you get in."

  only have ...只有zhǐ yǒu A，only then / not until才cái B

  • only have ...只有zhǐ yǒu A，only then / not until才cái B = "only if A, (then) B": A is the one and only condition.
  • only then / not until才cái goes after the subject of the second clause, often with can / be able to能néng or can / will会huì.

  only if只有zhǐ yǒua lot多duōpractise练习liàn xí，only then才cáican能néngspeak well说好shuō hǎo。

  

  Only this person, only this way

  • With a person: only have ...只有zhǐ yǒuhe / him他tāonly then / not until才cáito know知道zhī dàoanswer答案dá àn。 — "Only he knows the answer."
  • With a method: only have ...只有zhǐ yǒu坐飞机zuò fēi jī，talent才能cái néngtoday今天jīn tiānto / arrive到dào。 — "Only by flying can we arrive today."

  only只有zhǐ yǒuhe他tā(then)才cáiknows知道zhī dàothe answer答案dá àn。

  only then / not until才cái, not then / just就jiù

  • Pair only have ...只有zhǐ yǒu with only then / not until才cái: only have ...只有zhǐ yǒuyou你nǐto go去qù，he / him他tāonly then / not until才cáican / will会huìto go去qù, not only have ...只有zhǐ yǒuyou你nǐto go去qù，he / him他tāthen / just就jiùcan / will会huìto go去qù.
  • Put only then / not until才cái after the subject: he / him他tāonly then / not until才cáican / will会huìto go去qù, not only then / not until才cáihe / him他tācan / will会huìto go去qù.

  only have ...只有zhǐ yǒu…only then / not until才cái versus if only只要zhǐ yào…then / just就jiù

  • only have ...只有zhǐ yǒu A only then / not until才cái B: A is necessary — no A, no B.
  • if only只要zhǐ yào A then / just就jiù B: A is enough — easy: if only只要zhǐ yàoto have / there is有yǒupassport护照hù zhào，then / just就jiùcan / be able to能néngto buy tickets买票mǎi piào。 — "All you need is a passport to buy a ticket."

  as long as只要zhǐ yàohave有yǒua passport护照hù zhào，then就jiùcan能néngbuy a ticket买票mǎi piào。

  Recap

  • only have ...只有zhǐ yǒu A，only then / not until才cái B = only if A, B (A is necessary).
  • if only只要zhǐ yào A，then / just就jiù B = as long as A, B (A is enough). only have ...只有zhǐ yǒu pairs with only then / not until才cái, if only只要zhǐ yào with then / just就jiù.

  Practise this pattern step by step.

  Practice without the models

  if only只要zhǐ yào … ，then / just就jiù … (as long as)

  0708.1 Complete: “As long as you ask, he will help you.” if only只要zhǐ yàoyou你nǐto ask问wèn，he / him他tā…………can / will会huìto help帮bāngyou你nǐ。

  0708.2 Which pair fits “Only by taking a taxi can you get there in time”? ___to take a taxi (in town)打车dǎ chē，you你nǐ___to have enough time来得及lái de jí。

  • A. because因为yīn wèi … so / therefore所以suǒ yǐ
  • B. only have ...只有zhǐ yǒu … only then / not until才cái
  • C. although虽然suī rán … but但是dàn shì
  • D. if only只要zhǐ yào … then / just就jiù

  0708.3 Build: “Whenever I have time, I'll come and see you.”

  Arrange all chunks: if only只要zhǐ yàoto have / there is有yǒu(concept of) time时间shí jiān / to go去qùto see看kànyou你nǐ。 / ， / I / me我wǒthen / just就jiù

  0708.4 if only只要zhǐ yàoyou你nǐto come来lái，then / just就jiùI / me我wǒdegree / adjective linker很hěnhappy高兴gāo xìng has the correct word order.

  True or false? Explain or repair the statement.

  0708.5 A friend is worried about tomorrow's picnic. You only need one thing to go right. 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.

  … ，only then / not until才cái … (only then / only after)

  0709.1 Complete: “You can only go out after you've eaten.” you你nǐ吃了饭chī le fàn，…………can / be able to能néngto go out出去chū qù。

  0709.2 Which sentence is correct?

  • A. I / me我wǒto wait for等děng(completed / change)了ledegree / adjective linker很hěn(long) time久jiǔ，he / him他tāonly then / not until才cáito come来lái。
  • B. I / me我wǒto wait for等děng(completed / change)了ledegree / adjective linker很hěn(long) time久jiǔ，他来tā láiI / me我wǒonly then / not until才cái。
  • C. I / me我wǒto wait for等děng(completed / change)了ledegree / adjective linker很hěn(long) time久jiǔ，only then / not until才cáihe / him他tāto come来lái。
  • D. I / me我wǒto wait for等děng(completed / change)了ledegree / adjective linker很hěn(long) time久jiǔ，他来tā láionly then / not until才cái。

  0709.3 Build: “I asked him three times before he told me.”

  Arrange all chunks: ， / I / me我wǒto ask问wèn(completed / change)了lehe / him他tāthird三次sān cì / he / him他tāonly then / not until才cái / to tell告诉gào sùI / me我wǒ。

  0709.4 only have ...只有zhǐ yǒu做完作业zuò wán zuò yè，talent才能cái néng玩游戏wán yóu xì makes finishing homework necessary, without proving it is sufficient by itself.

  True or false? Explain or repair the statement.

  0709.5 Your parents have one rule about screen time on school nights. 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.

  only have ...只有zhǐ yǒu … ，only then / not until才cái … (only if)

  0710.1 Complete: “Only if you rest well will you get better quickly.” only have ...只有zhǐ yǒuwell好好hǎo hǎorest休息xiū xī，…………can / be able to能néngto do sth more quickly快点kuài diǎngood好hǎo。

  0710.2 “All you need is a student card to get in for free.” Which pair fits? ___to have / there is有yǒustudent identity card学生证xué shēng zhèng，___can / be able to能néngfree (of charge)免费miǎn fèito go in进去jìn qù。

  • A. if only只要zhǐ yào … then / just就jiù
  • B. only have ...只有zhǐ yǒu … only then / not until才cái
  • C. only have ...只有zhǐ yǒu … then / just就jiù
  • D. if only只要zhǐ yào … only then / not until才cái

  0710.3 Build: “Only he knows the answer.”

  Arrange all chunks: only then / not until才cái / to know知道zhī dào / only have ...只有zhǐ yǒuhe / him他tā / answer答案dá àn。

  0710.4 only have ...只有zhǐ yǒuyou你nǐto go去qù，he / him他tāthen / just就jiùcan / will会huìto go去qù is the standard pairing.

  True or false? Explain or repair the statement.

  0710.5 The building door needs a code, and only residents know it. 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.

  Answers and explanations

  if only只要zhǐ yào … ，then / just就jiù … (as long as)

  0708.1 then / just就jiù

  if only只要zhǐ yào…，then / just就jiù….

  0708.2 B. only have ...只有zhǐ yǒu … only then / not until才cái

  The only way is only have ...只有zhǐ yǒu…only then / not until才cái….

  0708.3 if only只要zhǐ yàoto have / there is有yǒu(concept of) time时间shí jiān，I / me我wǒthen / just就jiùto go去qùto see看kànyou你nǐ。

  if only只要zhǐ yào + condition, subject + then / just就jiù + result.

  0708.4 False.

  then / just就jiù follows the subject: I / me我wǒthen / just就jiùdegree / adjective linker很hěnhappy高兴gāo xìng.

  0708.5 One possible response: if only只要zhǐ yào不下雨bù xià yǔ，we / us我们wǒ menthen / just就jiùto go去qùpicnic野餐yě cān。

  Check meaning and form:

  • My response conveys a message that fits the opening situation.
  • I can explain the meaning of the pattern, rather than only naming it.
  • Put then / just就jiù after the subject of the second clause: if only只要zhǐ yàoyou你nǐto come来lái，I / me我wǒthen / just就jiùhappy高兴gāo xìng, not then / just就jiùI / me我wǒhappy高兴gāo xìng.
  • if only只要zhǐ yào means the condition is enough; for "only if" (a necessary condition), use only have ...只有zhǐ yǒu…only then / not until才cái….
  • I tried a second response with a name, time, place, or description changed.

  This is supported productive practice. Compare meaning and structure; your answer need not copy the model. A partner or teacher must hear the spoken response to comment on pronunciation.

  … ，only then / not until才cái … (only then / only after)

  0709.1 only then / not until才cái

  Condition, then only then / not until才cái + can / be able to能néng + result.

  0709.2 A. I / me我wǒto wait for等děng(completed / change)了ledegree / adjective linker很hěn(long) time久jiǔ，he / him他tāonly then / not until才cáito come来lái。

  only then / not until才cái follows the result-clause subject and precedes to come来lái. These models do not impose a general ban on (completed / change)了le.

  0709.3 I / me我wǒto ask问wèn(completed / change)了lehe / him他tāthird三次sān cì，he / him他tāonly then / not until才cáito tell告诉gào sùI / me我wǒ。

  Effort, then subject + only then / not until才cái + result.

  0709.4 True.

  Only if A, B makes A necessary for B. Other conditions can also apply.

  0709.5 One possible response: you你nǐ做完作业zuò wán zuò yè，talent才能cái néng玩游戏wán yóu xì。

  Check meaning and form:

  • My response conveys a message that fits the opening situation.
  • I can explain the meaning of the pattern, rather than only naming it.
  • Put only then / not until才cái after the subject of the result: he / him他tāonly then / not until才cáito tell告诉gào sùI / me我wǒ, not only then / not until才cáihe / him他tāto tell告诉gào sùI / me我wǒ.
  • The simple result model here is he / him他tāonly then / not until才cáito tell告诉gào sùI / me我wǒ. Other contexts can allow (completed / change)了le; the whole construction matters.
  • I tried a second response with a name, time, place, or description changed.

  This is supported productive practice. Compare meaning and structure; your answer need not copy the model. A partner or teacher must hear the spoken response to comment on pronunciation.

  only have ...只有zhǐ yǒu … ，only then / not until才cái … (only if)

  0710.1 only then / not until才cái

  only have ...只有zhǐ yǒu pairs with only then / not until才cái.

  0710.2 A. if only只要zhǐ yào … then / just就jiù

  A student card is enough, so if only只要zhǐ yào…then / just就jiù….

  0710.3 only have ...只有zhǐ yǒuhe / him他tāonly then / not until才cáito know知道zhī dàoanswer答案dá àn。

  only have ...只有zhǐ yǒu + person + only then / not until才cái + verb.

  0710.4 False.

  only have ...只有zhǐ yǒu pairs with only then / not until才cái: he / him他tāonly then / not until才cáican / will会huìto go去qù.

  0710.5 One possible response: only have ...只有zhǐ yǒuto know知道zhī dàocipher密码mì mǎ，talent才能cái néngto go in进去jìn qù。

  Check meaning and form:

  • My response conveys a message that fits the opening situation.
  • I can explain the meaning of the pattern, rather than only naming it.
  • Pair only have ...只有zhǐ yǒu with only then / not until才cái: only have ...只有zhǐ yǒuyou你nǐto go去qù，he / him他tāonly then / not until才cáican / will会huìto go去qù, not only have ...只有zhǐ yǒuyou你nǐto go去qù，he / him他tāthen / just就jiùcan / will会huìto go去qù.
  • Put only then / not until才cái after the subject: he / him他tāonly then / not until才cáican / will会huìto go去qù, not only then / not until才cáihe / him他tācan / will会huìto go去qù.
  • I tried a second response with a name, time, place, or description changed.

  This is supported productive practice. Compare meaning and structure; your answer need not copy the model. A partner or teacher must hear the spoken response to comment on pronunciation.

All topics · HSK 3 Grammar