Conditional: -(으)면 (if / when)

Explanation

-(으)면 states the condition needed for the next clause to happen, or imagines something that hasn't happened yet. It also covers things that happen regularly, as in 봄이 되면 꽃이 피어요 (When spring comes, flowers bloom). It is not used for a single event that already happened in the past; use -았/었을 때 for that. Adding 만약 or 혹시 makes the 'if' meaning clearer.

How to form it

• Stem ending in a vowel or ㄹ + 면

  가다 → 가면, 만들다 → 만들면

• Stem ending in a consonant + 으면

  먹다 → 먹으면, 좋다 → 좋으면

• Noun + (이)면

  학생 + 이면 → 학생이면, 친구 + 면 → 친구면

Examples

• 시간이 있으면 같이 영화를 봐요.

  If you have time, let's watch a movie together.

• 내일 비가 오면 집에 있을 거예요.

  If it rains tomorrow, I'll stay home.

• 이 약을 먹으면 금방 나을 거예요.

  If you take this medicine, you'll get better soon.

• 모르는 단어가 있으면 저한테 물어보세요.

  If there's a word you don't know, ask me.