{{Grammar Box}} 

"如果⋯⋯的话，⋯⋯" (rúguǒ... de huà, ...) is a pattern commonly used in Chinese to express "if." An easy way to remember the pattern's format is that in the full form, the condition is "sandwiched" between 如果 and 的话.

An important thing to note is that 如果 can be switched out for the various other terms for "if," including [["If… Then…" with "yaoshi"|the common 要是]] (yàoshi) and [["If… Then…" with "jiaru"|the formal 假如]] (jiǎrú), among others.  Also, keep in mind that the 的话 at the end is optional, and even the leading "if" word is optional!  Even when there are no explicit "if" words in a sentence, though, the "if" can be inferred from context. But be glad if you get either a 如果 or a 的话; it makes understanding the sentence that much easier!

== Examples ==

<div class="liju">

*<em>如果</em> 你 有 空 <em>的话</em>，我们 可以 明天 晚上 看 电影。<span class="trans">If you have time, we can go see a movie tomorrow night.</span>
*<em>如果</em> 没有 你的帮助 <em>的话</em>，他 是 不会 得到  这份 工作 的。<span class="trans">If you didn't help him, he wouldn't get the job offer.</span>
*<em>如果</em> 你 不 来 <em>的话</em>，老师 会 很 失望。<span class="trans">If you don't come, the teacher will be disappointed.</span>

</div>

==See also==
*[["If…, then…" with "ruguo…, jiu…"]]
*[[Marking a Topic with "de hua"]]
*[["If… Then…" with "yaoshi"]]
*[["Only if" with "zhiyou"]]

== Sources and  further reading ==

=== Books ===

* [[Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide]] (pp. 280) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415700108?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0415700108 →buy] 

=== Websties ===
* Chinesegrammar.info: [http://chinesegrammar.info/vocabulary/de-hua-expressing-if/ Chinese grammar de hua (的话): expressing “if” in Chinese with de hua]

[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
{{Basic Grammar|如果|B1|如果⋯⋯（的话），⋯⋯|<em>如果</em> 你 不 来 <em>的话</em>，老师 会 很 失望。|grammar point|ASGN4VUU}}
{{Rel char|的话}}
{{Rel char|的}}
{{Rel char|话}}
{{Rel char|如}}
{{Translation|if}}
{{Similar|Marking a Topic with "de hua"}}
{{Similar|"If… Then…" with "yaoshi"}}
{{Similar|"Only if" with "zhiyou"}}
{{Similar|"If…, then…" with "ruguo…, jiu…"}}
{{Used for|Indicating conditions}}
{{Structure|Sentence Patterns}}