Everything you need to use conditional sentences correctly: the patterns, when to use them, examples with audio, common mistakes and exercises with answers.
Chinese uses several conditional patterns, such as 如果...就..., 要是...就..., 只有...才... and 除非...才.... Key patterns: If + condition, 就 + result; Only if + condition, 才 + result.
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| If... then... | 如果/要是 + Condition, 就 + Result If + condition, 就 + result | 如果下雨，我们就不去。 If it rains, we will not go. |
| Only if... then... | 只有 + Condition, 才 + Result Only if + condition, 才 + result | 只有努力，才会成功。 Only by working hard will you succeed. |
If the condition holds, the result follows with 就.
Use 只有...才... to stress that this is the only condition.
Pick the right option, then open the answer to check it.
Options: 如果 · 或者 · 所以 · 虽然
如果. Ordinary conditionals use 如果...就....
Options: 却 · 又 · 就 · 才
就. The result clause of an if-then pattern usually takes 就.
Options: 只有早点睡，就不会累。 · 只有早点睡，才不会累。 · 如果早点睡，才不会累。 · 才早点睡，只有不会累。
只有早点睡，才不会累。. The pattern for a necessary condition is 只有...才....
Options: 你要是不去，才我不去。 · 我就不去，要是你不去才。 · 要是你不去，就我不去。 · 要是你不去，我就不去。
要是你不去，我就不去。. Conditions are often expressed with 要是...就....
Options: 你需要帮助如果，就告诉我。 · 如果你需要帮助，就告诉我。 · 如果你需要帮助，才告诉我。 · 如果需要你帮助，就告诉我。
如果你需要帮助，就告诉我。. The standard conditional structure is 如果..., 就....
Options: 但是 · 如果 · 所以 · 虽然
如果. 如果...就... = if... then...: If it does not rain tomorrow, we will go hiking.
Options: 又 · 就 · 才 · 还
就. The result clause after 如果 takes 就: If you are tired, take a rest.
Options: 又 · 就 · 才 · 都
才. 只有...才... = only if... then...: Only by studying hard can you do well in the exam.
Options: 不但 · 只有 · 只要 · 虽然
只要. 只要...就... = as long as...; 只有 must pair with 才: As long as you work hard, you will learn Chinese well.
Options: 却 · 只 · 就 · 才
就. 如果...就... links condition and result: If it rains tomorrow, we will not go to the park.
Options: 你不来如果，我就一个人去。 · 如果你不来，我就一个人去。 · 如果你不来，我就去一个人。 · 如果你不来，我才一个人去。
如果你不来，我就一个人去。. 如果 opens the condition, 就 follows the subject of the result, and 一个人 goes before the verb: If you do not come, I will go alone.
Options: 但是 · 如果 · 而且 · 虽然
如果. 如果...就... = if... then...: If you like it, buy it.
Options: 事 · 候 · 时 · 话
话. The pattern 如果...的话 = if: If you are not feeling well, go home early.
Options: 只有多练习，就能说得好。 · 只有多练习，才能说得好。 · 只有多练习，能才说得好。 · 如果多练习，才能说得好。
只有多练习，才能说得好。. 只有 must pair with 才, and 才 comes before 能: Only with lots of practice can you speak well.
Options: 又 · 就 · 才 · 还
就. 要是...就... = if... then...: If you do not want to go, then don't.
Options: 不 · 了 · 别 · 没
不. A hypothetical future is negated with 不: If I were you, I would not buy this piece of clothing.
Options: 又 · 就 · 才 · 都
才. 只有...才... gives the only condition: He will come only if you go.
Options: 但是 · 因为 · 虽然 · 那
那. 如果..., 那... = if..., then...: If you do not have time, then let's meet another day.
Options: 明天天气好要是，我们就去公园。 · 要是明天天气好，我们去公园就。 · 要是明天天气好，我们去就公园。 · 要是明天天气好，我们就去公园。
要是明天天气好，我们就去公园。. 要是 opens the condition and 就 goes before the verb of the result: If the weather is nice tomorrow, we will go to the park.
Options: 就 · 才 · 被 · 都
就. An unreal past still uses 如果...就...了: If you had come earlier, you would have seen him.
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