Conditionals with 'sapos' — Tok Pisin Grammar

is "if". It comes from English "suppose", and it introduces the condition exactly where English puts "if".

The Basic Shape

The condition comes first, then the result - and the result clause normally carries the future marker .

Sapos yu no hariap, balus bai lusim yu.
If you don't hurry, the plane will leave you.
Sapos yu askim wanpela askim, yu bai kisim wanpela ansa.
If you ask a question, you'll get an answer.
Sapos mi wok na kisim planti mani, bai mi baim bikpela haus.
If I work and earn a lot of money, I'll buy a big house.

is doing what English "will" does. Note that it may stand at the front of the result clause or after its subject - and are both here, and both are ordinary.

No Separate Unreal Conditional

Here Tok Pisin is markedly simpler than English.

English has two distinct machines. For an open condition: "If I earn a lot of money, I will buy a house." For an imaginary one: "If I were a rich woman, I would have a big house" - a past-tense verb that is not past, a special form "were", and "would" instead of "will". Tok Pisin has one machine.

Sapos mi mani meri, bai mi gat wanpela bikpela haus.
If I were a rich woman, I'd have a big house.

Set that beside the earning-money sentence above. One is a real plan, the other is a daydream, and the grammar is identical: , then . Nothing marks the difference because nothing needs to - the situation does it.

Conditions About the Past

When the condition refers to something that did or did not happen, the past marker appears in the clause.

Sapos yu bin tokaut long mi, bai inap long givim yu mani.
If you had told me, I could have given you money.
Mi nonap wokim olsem sapos em bin mi.
I wouldn't have done that if it had been me.

Compare the English: "if you had told", "I wouldn't have done", "if it had been" - three compound tenses. The Tok Pisin uses once and leaves every verb in its plain form.

Putting the Condition Second

The order can be reversed, with the result first. There is no comma and nothing else changes.

Yu ken ringim mi sapos yu laikim sampela samting.
You can call me if you want something.

When the Result Is an Instruction

is not automatic. If the result half is a command rather than a prediction, it is a plain imperative and no marker appears. This pattern is everywhere in practical writing - recipes, instructions, health advice.

Sapos i no pen, larim i stap.
If it doesn't hurt, leave it alone.
Sapos i stap yet, soim long dokta.
If it's still there, show it to a doctor.
Sapos i pait tumas, putim liklik suga.
If it's too bitter, add a little sugar.

So the rule is not "conditions take " but the more sensible one: appears when the result is something that will happen, and stays away when you are telling someone what to do.

Sapos yu katim, bai as i no dai.
If you cut it, the root won't die.
Sapos yu no kisim, bai i bagarap.
If you don't take it, it will spoil.

'sapos nogat' - Otherwise

A useful fixed phrase. Standing alone in place of a full condition, it means "if not" or "otherwise", picking up whatever was just said and negating it.

Sapos nogat, bai em i bagarap kwiktaim.
Otherwise, it will spoil quickly.

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