ak

If: Ak

Level 2

Ak means if for a real, possible condition: Ak budeš mať čas, príď. (If you have time, come.)

How It Works

A real condition

Ak introduces something that may really happen. The main clause can be a statement, a question or a command.

  • Ak chceš, pomôžem ti. If you want, I'll help you.
  • Ak sa stratíš, zavolaj mi. If you get lost, call me.

Tense inside the ak clause

English says if you have time even about tomorrow. Slovak uses a future meaning inside the ak clause too:

  • imperfective verbs use budem + infinitive: Ak bude pršať, zostaneme doma. (If it rains, we'll stay at home.)
  • perfective verbs use their present form, which already means the future: Ak prídeš neskoro, počkám. (If you come late, I'll wait.) Never put budem before a perfective verb. See Perfective Verbs for the Future.
  • for general truths use the present: Ak prší, zostávame doma. (If it rains, we stay at home.)

Word order and commas

The ak clause can come first or second, and a comma always separates it: Zavolaj mi, ak niečo potrebuješ. A short ak nie means if not or otherwise: Príď o piatej. Ak nie, zavolaj.

Ak, keď and keby

  • ak: a real if.
  • keď: when. In everyday speech it is also used for a real if: Keď chceš, pomôžem ti. See When: keď.
  • keby: an imagined if, with the l-form and by: Keby som mal čas, išiel by som. See Real Versus Unreal Conditions.

Not for whether. English if can also mean whether. Slovak uses či for that: Neviem, či príde. (I don't know if he'll come.)

Examples (6)

  1. Ak budeš mať čas, príď.

    If you have time, come.

    budeš mať is the future of mať, because the condition is about later.

  2. Ak chceš, pomôžem ti.

    If you want, I'll help you.

  3. Ak sa stratíš, zavolaj mi.

    If you get lost, call me.

    stratíš is perfective, so its present form already points to the future.

  4. Zavolaj mi, ak niečo potrebuješ.

    Call me if you need anything.

    The ak clause can also come second. The comma stays.

  5. Ak prší, zostávame doma.

    If it rains, we stay at home.

    A general rule, so both clauses use the present.

  6. Ak to nevieš, opýtaj sa učiteľa.

    If you don't know, ask the teacher.

Common Mistakes

  • Using ak for English if in the sense of whether.

    Neviem, ak príde.
    Neviem, či príde.

    After verbs like vedieť, pýtať sa and zistiť, if means whether. Slovak uses či there; ak only introduces a condition.

  • Putting budem before a perfective verb in the ak clause.

    Ak budem prísť neskoro, zavolám.
    Ak prídem neskoro, zavolám.

    Prísť is perfective, so prídem already means I will come. Budem goes only with imperfective infinitives such as mať, robiť or pracovať.

  • Using keby with a real, future condition.

    Keby budeš mať čas, príď.
    Ak budeš mať čas, príď.

    Keby is for imagined conditions and needs the l-form with by. For something that can really happen, use ak with a normal tense.

How It Connects

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

akLevel 2If: Ak

Learn This First

Before If: ak, learn When: keď. ak parallels keď but states a condition.

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