уколико / под условом да

Explicit Conditions

Level 4Sounds Like ukoliko; pod uslovom da

Уколико (if / in case) and под условом да (on the condition that / provided that) are formal conjunctions used to set explicit, legally binding, or administrative conditions. While everyday conversation relies on ако, these constructions dominate formal correspondence, legal documents, contracts, and business settings.

How It Works

Conditional sentences in Serbian can vary greatly depending on formality and nuance:

1. Уколико (Formal 'If / In case')
In modern standard Serbian, уколико functions as a standalone subordinating conjunction introducing real or potential conditions. It is ubiquitous in business, legal, and official contexts.

  • Real / Open conditions: Can refer to the present, future, or past:
    — Present: with the present tense (Уколико имате питања, јавите се. – If you have questions, reach out.)
    — Future: with the present tense or футур II (Уколико будете желели да продужите уговор... – If you wish to extend the contract...)
    — Past: open conditions referring to past events whose outcome is open or unconfirmed take the перфекат. This is extremely common in business correspondence (Уколико сте већ уплатили рачун, занемарите ову поруку. – If you have already paid the bill, please disregard this message.)
  • Potential conditions: Combined with the potential (conditional mood) for polite or hypothetical situations.
    Уколико би дошло до промене... (Should a change occur...)
  • Important limitation: Уколико cannot introduce counterfactual (unreal or impossible) conditions in general—neither present nor past. Unreal conditions require да + present (or кад + potential) for present unreality, and да + perfect for past counterfactuals.

2. Под условом да ('On the condition that / Provided that')
This phrasal conjunction sets an absolute prerequisite. The main clause is valid strictly if the condition in the subordinate clause is met.

  • Written as three separate words: под условом да. Note that услов is the standard Serbian term across both Ekavian and Ijekavian varieties (unlike standard Croatian uvjet).
  • Verb forms: When referring to future or general prerequisites, it takes the present tense (aspect can be perfective or imperfective). It never takes futur I or futur II directly after да (*под условом да будем имао is ungrammatical; use под условом да имам). However, it can readily govern the perfect tense when referring to a completed prerequisite (e.g., ...под условом да је измирио обавезе) or the potential for hypothetical prerequisites.

3. Placement and Punctuation
Just like clauses introduced by ако, subordinate clauses introduced by уколико or под условом да can come before or after the main clause. When the conditional clause precedes the main clause, it is separated by a comma.

Examples (4)

  1. Уколико имате додатних питања, слободно нам се обратите.

    If you have additional questions, feel free to contact us.

    Word by Word: If you-have additional questions, freely to-us turn.

    A classic formula in professional emails and customer support using 'уколико' with the present tense.

  2. Студент може полагати испит под условом да је измирио све обавезе.

    A student may take the exam on the condition that they have settled all obligations.

    Word by Word: Student can take exam under condition that is settled all obligations.

    Demonstrates 'под условом да' stipulating a strict requirement in an academic or institutional setting.

  3. Уколико би дошло до одлагања, сви учесници би били обавештени.

    Should a postponement occur, all participants would be notified.

    Word by Word: If would come to postponement, all participants would be informed.

    'Уколико' combined with the potential mood (би дошло) expresses a formal hypothetical condition.

  4. Потписаћемо уговор под условом да прихватите наше рокове.

    We will sign the contract provided that you accept our deadlines.

    Word by Word: We-will-sign contract under condition that you-accept our deadlines.

    The clause introduced by 'под условом да' uses the present tense (прихватите), not a future tense.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'уколико' in casual, everyday speech.

    Different MeaningУколико желиш кафу, скуваћу је за минут.
    Ако желиш кафу, скуваћу је за минут.

    'Уколико' is correct, but it sounds very formal and official in daily conversation. With friends or family, 'ако' is the natural choice.

  • Using Future I directly after 'под условом да'.

    Одобрићемо зајам под условом да ћете вратити дуг на време.
    Одобрићемо зајам под условом да вратите дуг на време.

    After 'под условом да', Serbian normally uses the present tense (вратите). 'Да ћете вратити' is avoided in careful Serbian, so the present is the safer choice.

  • Using 'уколико' for past unreal counterfactuals.

    Уколико сам знао за састанак, дошао бих раније.
    Да сам знао за састанак, дошао бих раније.

    'Уколико' only covers open conditions or polite potentials. Counterfactual past conditions ('If I had known...') strictly require the 'да + perfect' construction.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

уколико / под условом даLevel 4Explicit Conditions

Learn This First

To express explicit or formal conditions using 'уколико' or 'под условом да', learners must already understand how basic conditional sentences operate (typically using 'ако') and have familiarity with the prepositional structure underlying 'под условом'.

Words in This Pattern

уколикоусловпод