Level 3 Lesson 33.2 – 如果明天下雨的话，我们就不去游泳。
GRAMMAR: Two Complex Sentence Structures With adv. 就(jiù) 1) 如果……(的话)，就……; 2) 只要……，就……
In this new HSK 2 video lesson we'll learn two very useful structures that are commonly used to form a 复句(fùjù ▸ Complex Sentence) in Chinese. The two structures both has adverb 就 (jiù ▸ to carry on from the previous context and draw conclusions) in them:
- 如果……(的话)，就…… ( rúguǒ......dehuà, jiù...... ▸ if..., then...)
- 只要……，就…… (zhǐyào......, jiù......▸ as long as..., then...)
GRAMMAR
Grammar 1. 如果……(的话)，就……
rúguǒ......(dehuà), jiù...... ▸ if..., then...
"如果……(的话)，就……" is a very useful Complex Sentence Structure in Chinese.
| ☑ See also 复句 (Fùjù ▸ Complex Sentences). |
When using this structure, we follow this format:
如果 + Clause1 + (的话)，就 + Clause2
Clause1 here is a 假设 (jiǎshè ▸ hypothesis); and Clause2 here is a 结果 (jiéguǒ▸ result). Adverb 就 here means "then", it is used "to carry on from the previous context and draw conclusions".
Be careful that if in Clause2, there is a Subject, it needs to go before 就:
如果 + Clause1 + (的话)，(Subject) 就 + Clause2
This structure also has three variations, because both 的话 and 如果 can sometimes be omitted:
- 如果……， 就…… (rúguǒ......, jiù......)
- 如果……的话， 就…… (rúguǒ......dehuà, jiù......)
- ……的话， 就…… (.....dehuà, jiù......)
Let us look at some examples:
- Rúguǒ míngtiān xiàyǔ, wǒmen jiù bú qù yóuyǒng.
如果明天下雨，我们就不去游泳。
If tomorrow (it does) rain, we “then” (will) not go swimming. - Rúguǒ míngtiān xiàyǔ dehuà, wǒmen jiù bú qù yóuyǒng.
如果明天下雨的话，我们就不去游泳。
If tomorrow (it does) rain, we “then” (will) not go swimming. - Míngtiān xiàyǔ dehuà, wǒmen jiù bú qù yóuyǒng.
明天下雨的话，我们就不去游泳。
If tomorrow (it does) rain, we “then” (will) not go swimming.
Grammar 2. 只要……，就……
zhǐyào……, jiù…… ▸ if..., then...
"只要……，就……" is another useful Complex Sentence Structure in Chinese. When using this structure, we follow this format:
只要 + Clause1，就 + Clause2
Clause1 here is a 必要条件 (bìyàotiáojiàn ▸ necessary condition); and Clause2 here is a 结果 (jiéguǒ▸ result). Adverb 就 here also means "then", it is used "to carry on from the previous context and draw conclusions".
Be careful that if in Clause2, there is a Subject, it needs to go before 就:
只要 + Clause1，(Subject) 就 + Clause2
Let us look at some examples:
- Zhǐyào míngtiān bú xiàyǔ, wǒ jiù qù yóuyǒng.
只要明天不下雨，我就去游泳。
As-long-as tomorrow (it does) not rain, I “then” (will) go swimming. - Zhǐyào yǒu jīhuì, wǒ jiù dài nǐ qù lǚyóu.
只要有机会，我就带你去旅游。
As-long-as (I) have (a) chance, I “then” (will) take you to-go travel. - Zhǐyào juédìng le, jiù bú yào zài xiǎng hái yǒu méi yǒu bié de kěnéng.
只要决定了，就不要再想还有没有别的可能。
As-long-as (you have) decided, “then” (you) should not again think additionally (that there) exists (or) not exists other possibilities.