यदि ... तो

Formal Conditions

Level 5Sounds Like yadi ... tō

यदि means if, in formal speech and writing.

How It Works

यदि means if. It comes from Sanskrit and sounds formal, so it belongs in notices, instructions, news, speeches and careful writing. In everyday talk, people say अगर.

Everything else works as with अगर. तो introduces the result, and it can be left out:

Kind of conditionExample
Possible, futureयदि आपका आवेदन समय पर मिला, तो उस पर इसी महीने विचार किया जाएगा।
Possible, subjunctiveयदि आपको कोई समस्या हो, तो हमसे संपर्क करें।
General ruleयदि संख्या बढ़ती है, तो ख़र्च भी बढ़ता है।
Unrealयदि सरकार समय पर क़दम उठाती, तो यह नुक़सान न होता।

In formal instructions, the result is often a polite request ending in -एँ: संपर्क करें, बाहर न जाएँ. This form addresses the reader without naming them.

यदि fits best with other formal words around it: समस्या, संपर्क, आवेदन. In a very casual sentence it sounds stiff, the way English provided that would in a chat with friends.

Related formal words include अन्यथा (otherwise) and बशर्ते (provided that).

Examples (5)

  1. यदि आपको कोई समस्या हो, तो कृपया हमसे संपर्क करें।

    If you have any problem, please contact us.

    A typical formal notice: यदि, the subjunctive हो and a polite -एँ request.

  2. यदि बारिश हो रही हो, तो बाहर न जाएँ।

    If it is raining, do not go outside.

    न जाएँ is a polite negative instruction.

  3. यदि संख्या बढ़ती है, तो ख़र्च भी बढ़ता है।

    If the number goes up, the cost goes up too.

    The present tense states a general rule.

  4. यदि आपका आवेदन समय पर मिला, तो उस पर इसी महीने विचार किया जाएगा।

    If your application reaches us on time, it will be considered this month.

    A past form in the condition can point to a possible future event.

  5. यदि सरकार समय पर क़दम उठाती, तो यह नुक़सान न होता।

    If the government had acted in time, this damage would not have happened.

    The -ता forms make the condition unreal, as with अगर.

How It Connects

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यदि ... तोLevel 5Formal Conditions

Learn This First

यदि is the formal version of अगर.

Words in This Pattern

यदितो