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Если квитанция не придёт завтра, я перезвоню в банк.

Если квитанция не придёт завтра, я перезвоню в банк.
If the bill doesn’t arrive tomorrow, I will call the bank back.

Breakdown of Если квитанция не придёт завтра, я перезвоню в банк.

я
I
в
to
не
not
если
if
завтра
tomorrow
прийти
to arrive
перезвонить
to call back
банк
the bank
квитанция
the receipt
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Questions & Answers about Если квитанция не придёт завтра, я перезвоню в банк.

Why is there a comma after завтра?

Because the sentence starts with a subordinate если-clause (Если квитанция не придёт завтра) followed by the main clause (я перезвоню в банк). In Russian, when the если-clause comes first, it’s normally separated by a comma from the main clause.

Could I put the если-clause at the end instead?

Yes. You can also say:

  • Я перезвоню в банк, если квитанция не придёт завтра.
    The comma is still used to separate the clauses.
Why does Russian use future tense in both parts, unlike English (If it doesn’t arrive…, I’ll call…)?

Russian commonly uses the future in both clauses when talking about a real future condition:

  • не придёт = future (perfective)
  • перезвоню = future (perfective)
    Russian doesn’t follow the English rule of “present after if”; it simply uses the tense that matches the time reference.
What tense is придёт? It looks like present tense.

придёт is the simple future of the perfective verb прийти (to come/arrive).
Perfective verbs in Russian form the future without буду:

  • приходит (imperfective present: is coming/comes regularly)
  • придёт (perfective future: will come/arrive (once, completed))
Why is прийти / придёт (perfective) used here, not приходить?

Because the sentence is about a single expected event (the receipt/confirmation arriving) and whether it happens by tomorrow. Perfective fits a one-time completed result: arrive (and be received).
Если квитанция не приходит завтра… would sound odd unless you mean a repeated/typical schedule.

What does перезвоню mean exactly, and why not just позвоню?

перезвоню is the future of перезвонить and usually means to call back (return a call / call again).
позвоню (позвонить) is neutral: I’ll call.
So перезвоню often implies an additional nuance: you’ve already contacted them or this is a follow-up.

Why is it в банк and not банку after перезвоню?

Both patterns exist depending on what you mean:

  • перезвонить кому? (dative, a person): перезвоню менеджеру = I’ll call the manager back.
  • перезвонить куда? (a place/organization as a destination): перезвоню в банк = I’ll call the bank (back). Using в банк is very common when the “recipient” is an institution/office rather than a specific person.
Is я necessary in я перезвоню?

Not strictly. Russian often drops subject pronouns because the verb ending shows the person:

  • Если квитанция не придёт завтра, перезвоню в банк.
    Including я can add emphasis or clarity (e.g., contrasting with someone else).
Why is the word order like this? Could завтра move?

Yes, word order is flexible. Завтра can be moved to change emphasis:

  • Если квитанция не придёт завтра, я перезвоню в банк. (neutral)
  • Если завтра квитанция не придёт, я перезвоню в банк. (emphasis on tomorrow as the deadline)
  • Если квитанция завтра не придёт… (also possible)
What case is квитанция here, and why?

квитанция is nominative singular feminine because it’s the subject of the verb придёт (it is what “will arrive”). The verb agrees in number (singular) with it.

How does negation work in не придёт?

не simply negates the verb: придёт (will arrive) → не придёт (will not arrive).
In this type of conditional, не stays directly before the verb.

What’s the deal with придёт having ё? I often see придет.

The correct spelling is придёт with ё. However, ё is frequently written as е in everyday texts: придет.
Pronunciation is still with yo: придёт ≈ pri-DYOT (stress on the second syllable).

How do you pronounce the tricky words in this sentence?

Approximate pronunciations (stress in bold):

  • Если: YEs-li
  • квитанция: kv’i-TAN-tsi-ya
  • придёт: pri-DYOT
  • завтра: ZAV-tra
  • перезвоню: pe-ri-zva-NYU
  • в банк: v bank (the в sounds like f before б for many speakers: f bank)