mabodo

In Case, If by Chance

Level 5

Mabodo + verb in -sa = in case, if by any chance: Mabodo kechiksam, meni kutmang (If by chance I'm late, don't wait for me).

How It Works

1. Building the sentence
Put mabodo at the start and the verb in the -sa form, just as with agar. Then add a comma and the main clause:

  • Mabodo yomgʻir yogʻsa, uyda qolamiz. (If it happens to rain, we'll stay home.)
  • Mabodo savolingiz boʻlsa, menga yozing. (If you have any questions, write to me.)

2. Agar or mabodo?
Agar is the plain if. Mabodo adds a just-in-case feeling: you do not expect it, but you want to be ready. That is why it fits warnings, instructions and kind offers: Mabodo biror narsa kerak boʻlsa, menga qoʻngʻiroq qiling (If you happen to need anything, give me a call). Formal writing has a similar word, basharti.

3. Keep the -sa
Mabodo does not replace the if-ending. Without -sa, the clause reads as a plain statement. Say Mabodo kechiksam, not Mabodo kechikaman.

4. By any chance, in questions
Mabodo can also soften a question, like by any chance, usually a negative one: Mabodo uning telefon raqamini bilmaysizmi? (You don't happen to know her phone number, do you?)

Examples (6)

  1. Mabodo kechiksam, meni kutmang.

    If by chance I'm late, don't wait for me.

    Word by Word: By-chance I-am-late-if, me don't-wait.

  2. Mabodo yomgʻir yogʻsa, uyda qolamiz.

    If it happens to rain, we'll stay at home.

    Word by Word: By-chance rain falls-if, home-at we-stay.

  3. Mabodo biror narsa kerak boʻlsa, menga qoʻngʻiroq qiling.

    If you happen to need anything, give me a call.

    Word by Word: By-chance some thing needed is-if, me-to call do.

  4. Mabodo yoʻlda adashib qolsangiz, odamlardan soʻrang.

    If you happen to get lost on the way, ask people.

    Word by Word: By-chance road-on lost you-end-up-if, people-from ask.

  5. Mabodo qiynalsang, menga ayt.

    If you ever have a hard time, tell me.

    Word by Word: By-chance you-struggle-if, me-to tell.

  6. Mabodo uning telefon raqamini bilmaysizmi?

    You don't happen to know her phone number, do you?

    Word by Word: By-chance her phone number-(object) you-don't-know?

    Here mabodo softens a question, like by any chance.

Common Mistakes

  • Dropping the -sa ending after mabodo.

    Mabodo kechikaman, meni kutmang.
    Mabodo kechiksam, meni kutmang.

    Mabodo does not do the job of -sa. The verb in the condition still needs the -sa form with its person ending: kechiksam.

How It Connects

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

mabodoLevel 5In Case, If by Chance

Learn This First

Builds on If: agar.