如果…就【rúguǒ … jiù】

如果 introduces a condition, and the next clause says what follows from it. 就 marks the result; it goes after the subject and right before the verb.

就 goes after the subject

English "then" starts its clause. 就 is an adverb, so a subject in the result clause comes before it.

• × 如果下雨，就我不去 → 如果下雨，我就不去

就 can be left out, and a result that already has 也 usually goes without it.

The condition comes first

English puts "if" at either end: "I won't go if it rains". The 如果 clause goes first.

• × 我不去如果下雨 → 如果下雨，我不去

的话

的话 at the end of the condition means the same "if". It can join 如果 or stand in for it, and it is common in speech.

A condition that didn't happen uses the same frame, with 了 at the end of the result.

要是 is the spoken equivalent of 如果.