Vietnamese 'nếu ... thì' Usage (If ... then)
'nếu ... thì' is commonly used to express conditional sentences, essential for learners.
Quick explanation
Quick explanation
'nếu ... thì' is commonly used to express conditional sentences, essential for learners.
English meanings
- If ... then
Grammar pattern
Examples
1
Nếu trời mưa thì tôi ở nhà.
If it rains, I stay home.
2
Nếu rảnh thì gọi cho tôi nhé.
If you are free, then call me.
How to use it
When using 'nếu ... thì', Vietnamese relies on fixed particles and word order to express condition and result. It is not a word-for-word replacement of English. 'Nếu' introduces the condition, 'thì' introduces the result. In speech, one particle may be omitted, but beginners should use the full form.
- 'nếu' introduces the condition, 'thì' introduces the result; full form is 'nếu + condition, thì + result'.
- In speech, sometimes 'nếu' or 'thì' can be omitted, but beginners should use the full form.
- The result clause can include words like 'sẽ', 'có thể', 'nên' to indicate future, possibility, or advice.
Compared with English
Compared with English
Similar to English 'if ... then', Vietnamese uses 'nếu' for 'if' and 'thì' for 'then'. 'Thì' functions like 'then' or 'in that case'.
Common mistakes
Nếu trời mưa tôi ở nhà.
Nếu trời mưa thì tôi ở nhà.
Beginners should keep 'thì' to clearly separate condition and result; it can be omitted in speech but full form is safer.
Thì trời mưa nếu tôi ở nhà.
Nếu trời mưa thì tôi ở nhà.
Do not move 'nếu' and 'thì' arbitrarily; 'nếu' precedes the condition, 'thì' precedes the result.
Nếu tôi rảnh, tôi gọi cho bạn thì.
Nếu tôi rảnh thì tôi gọi cho bạn.
'thì' is not a sentence-final particle; it marks the result clause.
Commonly confused grammar
Practice
Multiple choice
What do 'nếu' and 'thì' mark in the structure?
Show answer
Multiple choice
What do 'nếu' and 'thì' mark in the structure?
- 'nếu' marks the condition, 'thì' marks the result
- 'nếu' marks the result, 'thì' marks the cause
- Both words only indicate politeness
Answer: 'nếu' marks the condition, 'thì' marks the result
Explanation: This structure clearly separates condition and result.
Fill in the blank
Fill in the blank: ____ tôi ở nhà.
Show answer
Fill in the blank
Fill in the blank: ____ tôi ở nhà.
Answer: Nếu trời mưa thì tôi ở nhà.
Explanation: 'nếu' introduces the condition, 'thì' introduces the result; full form is 'nếu + condition, thì + result'.
English to Vietnamese
Translate "If it rains, I stay home." into Vietnamese.
Show answer
English to Vietnamese
Translate "If it rains, I stay home." into Vietnamese.
Answer: Nếu trời mưa thì tôi ở nhà.
Explanation: Use nếu ... thì in the same structure as the example.
True or false
Is this sentence correct? 'Nếu trời mưa tôi ở nhà.'
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True or false
Is this sentence correct? 'Nếu trời mưa tôi ở nhà.'
Answer: False
Explanation: Beginners should keep 'thì' to clearly separate condition and result; full form is safer.
Correction
Correct this sentence: 'Nếu tôi rảnh, tôi gọi cho bạn thì.'
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Correction
Correct this sentence: 'Nếu tôi rảnh, tôi gọi cho bạn thì.'
Answer: Nếu tôi rảnh thì tôi gọi cho bạn.
Explanation: 'thì' goes before the result clause, not at the end.