अगर (agar)
conjunction
The everyday Hindi word for 'if,' introducing conditional clauses; almost always paired with तो (to) in the second half of the sentence.
Sense
1
:
conditional 'if'
conjunction Sets up an if-clause and is typically completed with तो (to) before the main clause: अगर ... तो (agar ... to).
Synonyms: यदि (yadi, more formal/literary), बशर्ते (basharte, less common, 'provided that')
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: You'll hear अगर...तो (agar...to, 'if...then') constantly in daily bargaining and planning talk in Delhi markets: अगर सस्ता होगा तो ले लूँगा (agar sastaa hogaa to le loongaa, 'if it's cheap, I'll buy it'). यदि (yadi) is the word you will meet in written Hindi or formal speeches, while अगर (agar) is what people actually say at home and on the street.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often drop तो (to) entirely; while it can be omitted in casual speech, beginners should practice including it, since native speakers lean on it to signal where the 'then' clause begins. 2) अगर (agar) itself never changes form or agrees with anything -- learners sometimes try to inflect or mark it, but it is a fixed conjunction.
Sample Sentences:
अगर बारिश होगी तो हम घर पर रहेंगे।
If it rains, we'll stay home.
(agar baarish hogii to ham ghar par rahenge।)
अगर सस्ता होगा तो मैं ले लूँगा।
If it's cheap, I'll buy it.
(agar sastaa hogaa to main le loongaa।)
अगर तुम्हें भूख लगी है तो कुछ खा लो।
If you're hungry, go ahead and eat something.
(agar tumhen bhookh lagii hai to kuchh khaa lo।)
अगर वह मेहनत करता तो आज सफल होता।
If he had worked hard, he would be successful today.
(agar vah mehnat kartaa to aaj saphal hotaa।)
अगर मुझे पहले पता होता तो मैं ज़रूर आती।
If I had known earlier, I would definitely have come.
(agar mujhe pahle pataa hotaa to main zaroor aatii।)
अगर रास्ते में कोई दिक्कत आए तो मुझे फ़ोन करना।
If any problem comes up on the way, call me.
(agar raaste men koii dikkat aae to mujhe fon karnaa।)
अगर आप इस बारे में कुछ जानते हों तो कृपया बताइए।
If you happen to know anything about this, please tell me.
(agar aap is baare men kuchh jaante hon to kripyaa bataaie।)
अगर सामान समय पर नहीं भेजा गया तो ग्राहक नाराज़ हो जाएगा।
If the goods aren't sent on time, the customer will get upset.
(agar saamaan samay par nahiin bhejaa gayaa to graahak naaraaz ho jaaegaa।)
अगर वह रोज़ सुबह दौड़ता है तो उसकी सेहत अच्छी रहती है।
If he runs every morning, his health stays good.
(agar vah roz subah daudtaa hai to uskii sehat achchhii rahtii hai।)
अगर बच्चे अभी सो रहे हैं तो शोर मत करो।
If the children are sleeping right now, don't make noise.
(agar bachche abhii so rahe hain to shor mat karo।)