Lesson 125: If… (Conditional Sentences)
Real conditions (“if it rains…”) use אִם (im). Hypothetical ones (“if I had…”) use הָיָה (haya) with the past tense in both halves. Tap any line to hear it.
Real conditions
אִם יֵרֵד גֶּשֶׁם, נִשָּׁאֵר בַּבַּיִת.
im yered geshem, nisha’er babayit.
If it rains, we’ll stay home.
אִם אַתָּה רָעֵב, יֵשׁ אֹכֶל בַּמִּטְבָּח.
im ata ra’ev, yesh ochel bamitbach.
If you’re hungry, there’s food in the kitchen.
Hypothetical
אִם הָיָה לִי זְמַן, הָיִיתִי בָּא.
im haya li zman, hayiti ba.
If I had time, I would come.
לוּ יָדַעְתִּי, הָיִיתִי אוֹמֵר לְךָ.
lu yadati, hayiti omer lecha.
Had I known, I would have told you.
As long as / unless
כָּל עוֹד אַתָּה מְנַסֶּה, זֶה בְּסֵדֶר.
kol od ata menase, ze beseder.
As long as you’re trying, it’s fine.
אֶלָּא אִם כֵּן תַּגִּיד אַחֶרֶת.
ela im ken tagid acheret.
Unless you say otherwise.