Make a plan and explain a condition

A useful situation

• Your goal: Arrange an activity while keeping conditions clear.
• Before you start, recall future time expressions and simple positive/negative actions. if如果rúguǒ introduces a condition; although虽然suīrán…but但是dàn shì links a contrast rather than cancelling either statement.

Words you will use

• if如果rúguǒ rúguǒ — if. if如果rúguǒ不下雨bù xià yǔ，we / us我们wǒ menthen / just就jiùto go去qù。
• although虽然suīrán suīrán — although. although虽然suīrán很累hěn lèi，but但是dàn shìI / me我wǒwant / think / miss想xiǎngto go去qù。
• decide决定juédìng juédìng — decide. we / us我们wǒ menstill / also还háinot / haven't没méidecide决定juédìng。
• activity活动huódòng huódòng — activity. school学校xué xiàoto have / there is有yǒuactivity活动huódòng。
• take part参加cānjiā cānjiā — take part. I / me我wǒwant / think / miss想xiǎngtake part参加cānjiāactivity活动huódòng。

Build the meaning

• if如果rúguǒ……then / just就jiù…… presents a condition and its result. It does not say the condition has already happened.
• although虽然suīrán……but但是dàn shì…… presents a contrast: although虽然suīrán很累hěn lèi，but但是dàn shìI / me我wǒwant / think / miss想xiǎngto go去qù. Explain why someone’s choice may differ from your expectation.

Work through a decision: For if如果rúguǒtomorrow明天míng tiānto have / there is有yǒu(concept of) time时间shí jiān，I / me我wǒthen / just就jiùtake part参加cānjiāactivity活动huódòng — if I have time tomorrow, I will join the activity — separate the condition to have / there is有yǒu(concept of) time时间shí jiān from the intended action take part参加cānjiāactivity活动huódòng. Asked whether participation is confirmed, say it depends on having time. The sentence alone supplies no timetable proving that condition is met.

Compare a plausible mistake: although虽然suīrán很累hěn lèi，but但是dàn shìI / me我wǒwant / think / miss想xiǎngto go去qù says the speaker is tired yet wants to go. It does not say the tiredness has disappeared or that the journey has happened. A wish despite an obstacle differs from a condition that must be met; explain the relationship rather than treating both connectors as a general link.

Listen for a fresh detail

• Listen before revealing the script.
• Replay if you need to. This is practice: if playback is unavailable, use the script as reading and return to listening on a device with Mandarin playback.

Read a different account

school学校xué xiàoSaturday星期六xīng qī liùto have / there is有yǒuactivity活动huódòng。林安lín ānalthough虽然suīrán很累hěn lèi，but但是dàn shìwant / think / miss想xiǎngtake part参加cānjiā。Wang Li (1900-1986), one of…王力wáng lìvariant of 说说shuō，if如果rúguǒ不下雨bù xià yǔ，he / him他tāthen / just就jiùto go去qù。两个liǎng gèperson人rénstill / also还háinot / haven't没méidecide决定juédìngwhat time?几点jǐ diǎnto set off出发chū fā。

• The reading and listening have different details. Use the material for the question you are answering.
• Read once for the situation, then again for the relevant detail. Reveal help when needed.

Speak, write, and review

• Suggest an activity. Your partner adds a weather condition; repeat the conditional plan to confirm it.
• Record yourself privately or work with a partner. First try without the model, then compare the meaning and structure; a text checker cannot assess your pronunciation.

• Write a plan with one condition and one contrast.
• Tomorrow, recall a conditional plan and a contrasting wish without the model. Later, change the condition and obstacle. Explain which new evidence would be needed before you could report the plan as confirmed.

Practise this unit’s words and skills · Choose the next guided unit