ถ้า ... ก็

If Then

Level 2

Use ถ้า to introduce a condition. In the examples here, ก็ marks the result and follows an expressed subject, or begins the result clause when the subject is left unstated.

How It Works

1. Introduce The Condition
ถ้า introduces the condition. In the displayed pattern, the condition comes first and the result follows. This does not require every conditional sentence to begin with ถ้า.

2. Mark The Result
In ถ้าฝนตก ผมก็จะไม่ไป, ก็ follows ผม (I) and introduces the result. In ถ้าหิวก็กินข้าวสิ, the understood subject is not stated, so ก็ begins the result clause. Practice [ถ้า + Condition], [Subject + ก็ + Result] with an expressed subject, or [ถ้า + Condition], [ก็ + Result] without one.

3. ก็ Is Not Always Required
ก็ can help connect the condition to the result. Leaving it out does not automatically make a sentence incomplete or rude. The meaning and wording depend on the construction and context.

4. Read The Result In Context
The result can be an intention, request, or likely outcome. คงจะ in the third example marks probability; the conditional itself does not guarantee that the event will happen. Compare หาก for another way to introduce a condition. This comparison does not rank frequency or prescribe one form for every situation.

Examples (4)

  1. ถ้าฝนตก ผมก็จะไม่ไป

    If it rains, (then) I won't go.

    Word by Word: if | rain | fall | I | then | will | not | go

    Notice how 'ก็' follows the subject 'ผม' (I) in the result clause.

  2. ถ้าหิวก็กินข้าวสิ

    If you're hungry, then eat!

    Word by Word: If hungry then eat rice [particle]

    The subject is understood from the request rather than stated. ก็ begins the result clause, and สิ supports the instruction to eat.

  3. ถ้าเธอไม่มา ฉันก็คงจะเสียใจ

    If you don't come, I would probably be sad.

    Word by Word: If you not come, I then probably will sad heart

    Here, 'ก็' is combined with 'คงจะ' (probably) to show a likely result.

  4. ถ้ามีเงินเยอะ ก็จะซื้อบ้านหลังใหญ่

    If I have a lot of money, I will buy a big house.

    Word by Word: If have money a lot, then will buy house [classifier] big

    The word 'ถ้า' introduces the condition of having money, and 'ก็' introduces the intention to buy a house.

Common Mistakes

  • Using A Different Order From The Requested Subject + ก็ Pattern.

    ถ้าเหนื่อย ก็คุณพัก
    ถ้าเหนื่อย คุณก็พัก

    This exercise requests คุณก็พัก, with คุณ before ก็, in the result clause. The second string places ก็ before คุณ and does not match that requested pattern. This is a construction exercise, not a ban on every discourse use of ก็ before an expressed subject.

  • Using แล้ว When The Exercise Requests A Result Marked By ก็.

    ถ้าฝนตก แล้วผมไม่ไป
    ถ้าฝนตก ผมก็ไม่ไป

    Use ผมก็ไม่ไป for the displayed ถ้า ... ก็ exercise. The second string uses แล้ว and does not supply the requested ก็ result marker. แล้ว can link events in sequence; its use after a condition is not rejected as impossible in every context.

How It Connects

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

ถ้า ... ก็Level 2If Then

Learn This First

To understand the 'ถ้า ... ก็' (If... Then) pattern, you first need to be familiar with the individual conditional marker 'ถ้า' and the logical connector 'ก็'. This pattern simply pairs these two existing concepts to make the relationship between a condition and its result more explicit.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

ถ้าก็