Lesson 13: Conditionals in Japanese (〜たら・〜と・〜ば・なら)

Conditional Form 〜たら (If/When)

The 〜たら form is one of the most versatile conditionals in Japanese, expressing "if" or "when" something happens. It can refer to both hypothetical situations and temporal sequences.

How to Form 〜たら

1. Verbs: Take the past tense (〜た form) + ら

   Dictionary	Past Tense	〜たら Form
   行いく	行いった	行いったら
   食たべる	食たべた	食たべたら
   見みる	見みた	見みたら
   する	した	したら
   来くる	来きた	来きたら

2. い-adjectives: Change い to かったら

   Base Form	〜たら Form
   高たかい	高たかかったら
   安やすい	安やすかったら
   寒さむい	寒さむかったら

3. な-adjectives and Nouns: Add だったら

   Base Form	〜たら Form
   元気げんき	元気げんきだったら
   学生がくせい	学生がくせいだったら
   静しずか	静しずかだったら

Main Uses of 〜たら

1. Hypothetical Conditions - "If X happens, then Y"
   

   雨あめが降ふったら、出でかけません。

   Ame ga futtara, dekakemasen.

   If it rains, I won't go out.

   Note: Hypothetical condition

   
   

   お金かねがあったら、
   新あたらしいパソコンを買かいます。

   Okane ga attara, atarashii pasokon o kaimasu.

   If I have money, I'll buy a new computer.

   Note: Hypothetical condition

2. Temporal Conditions - "When X happens, then Y"
   

   日本にほんに着ついたら、電話でんわします。

   Nihon ni tsuitara, denwa shimasu.

   When I arrive in Japan, I'll call you.

   Note: Temporal condition (future)

   
   

   仕事しごとが終おわったら、食事しょくじに行いきましょう。

   Shigoto ga owattara, shokuji ni ikimashō.

   When work is finished, let's go eat.

   Note: Temporal condition with invitation

3. Discoveries - "When/after X happened, I found Y"
   

   家いえに帰かえったら、財布さいふがありませんでした。

   Ie ni kaettara, saifu ga arimasen deshita.

   When I got home, my wallet wasn't there.

   Note: Discovery after an action

Usage Tip:
〜たら is versatile and commonly used in everyday speech. It's often the safest choice when you're unsure which conditional to use.

Cultural Note:
In business situations, たら can sometimes sound too casual. In formal writing or speaking to superiors, the conditional form 〜場合は (baai wa) might be used instead.

Conditional Form 〜と (Natural Consequences)

The 〜と conditional expresses natural or automatic consequences where one event inevitably follows another. It's used for scientific facts, natural laws, habitual actions, or predictable outcomes.

How to Form 〜と

Simply add と after the plain form (dictionary form) of the verb:

Key Uses of 〜と

1. Natural Laws/Scientific Facts
   

   春はるになると、桜さくらが咲さきます。

   Haru ni naru to, sakura ga sakimasu.

   When spring comes, cherry blossoms bloom.

   Note: Natural law/scientific fact

   
   

   水みずは100度どになると沸騰ふっとうします。

   Mizu wa hyaku-do ni naru to futtō shimasu.

   Water boils when it reaches 100 degrees.

   Note: Scientific fact

2. Mechanical/Automatic Results
   

   ボタンを押おすと、ドアが開あきます。

   Botan o osu to, doa ga akimasu.

   If you press the button, the door opens.

   Note: Mechanical result

   
   

   このアプリを開ひらくと、
   地図ちずが表示ひょうじされます。

   Kono apuri o hiraku to, chizu ga hyōji saremasu.

   When you open this app, a map is displayed.

   Note: Automatic result

3. Habitual Actions/Regular Occurrences
   

   夜よるになると、眠ねむくなります。

   Yoru ni naru to, nemuku narimasu.

   When night comes, I get sleepy.

   Note: Regular occurrence

   
   

   このあたりを歩あるくと、
   いつも猫ねこに会あいます。

   Kono atari o aruku to, itsumo neko ni aimasu.

   Whenever I walk around here, I always meet cats.

   Note: Habitual action

Important Restrictions

〜と cannot be used with:

• Commands or requests in the main clause
• Expressions of intention, desire, permission, or suggestion
• Verbs of volition 意志いし動詞どうし in the main clause

Incorrect:

春はるになると、公園こうえんに行いきましょう。
(When spring comes, let's go to the park.)

Correct:

春はるになったら、公園こうえんに行いきましょう。
(When spring comes, let's go to the park.)

Tip for Understanding:
Think of 〜と as "whenever X happens, Y automatically follows" - with no human will or intention involved in the result.

Cultural Context:
This form is common in Japanese instructions, explanations, and descriptions of how things work. You'll often hear it in product manuals and scientific explanations.

Conditional Form 〜ば (Hypotheticals)

The 〜ば conditional is used primarily for hypothetical conditions and is often employed to give advice or suggestions. It has a more formal tone than 〜たら.

How to Form 〜ば

1. Group 1 (う-verbs): Change the final う-sound to its corresponding え-sound + ば

   Dictionary Form	〜ば Form
   行いく (iku)	行いけば (ikeba)
   話はなす (hanasu)	話はなせば (hanaseba)
   飲のむ (nomu)	飲のめば (nomeba)
   買かう (kau)	買かえば (kaeba)
   待まつ (matsu)	待まてば (mateba)

2. Group 2 (る-verbs): Remove る and add れば

   Dictionary Form	〜ば Form
   食たべる (taberu)	食たべれば (tabereba)
   見みる (miru)	見みれば (mireba)
   起おきる (okiru)	起おきれば (okireba)

3. Group 3 (Irregular Verbs):

   Dictionary Form	〜ば Form
   する (suru)	すれば (sureba)
   来くる (kuru)	来くれば (kureba)

4. い-adjectives: Remove final い and add ければ

   Base Form	〜ば Form
   高たかい	高たかければ
   安やすい	安やすければ

5. な-adjectives and Nouns: Use であれば (formal) or なら (common)

   Base Form	〜ば Form
   元気げんき	元気げんきであれば
   静しずか	静しずかであれば

Main Uses of 〜ば

1. Hypothetical Conditions
   

   お金かねがあれば、旅行りょこうに行いきます。

   Okane ga areba, ryokō ni ikimasu.

   If I have money, I will go on a trip.

   Note: Hypothetical condition

   
   

   安やすければ、買かいます。

   Yasukereba, kaimasu.

   If it's cheap, I'll buy it.

   Note: Hypothetical condition with い-adjective

2. Giving Advice or Suggestions
   

   早はやく行いけば、間まに合あいます。

   Hayaku ikeba, ma ni aimasu.

   If you go early, you'll be on time.

   Note: Advice

   
   

   もっと勉強べんきょうすれば、上手じょうずになります。

   Motto benkyō sureba, jōzu ni narimasu.

   If you study more, you'll become better.

   Note: Suggestion

3. In Set Expressions
   

   よろしければ、ご一緒いっしょに食事しょくじしませんか。

   Yoroshikereba, go-issho ni shokuji shimasen ka.

   If you'd like, would you care to have a meal together?

   Note: Set expression for polite invitations

   
   

   できれば、明日あしたまでに教おしえてください。

   Dekireba, ashita made ni oshiete kudasai.

   If possible, please let me know by tomorrow.

   Note: Common set expression

Comparison with 〜たら:
While 〜たら can refer to past, present, or future conditions, 〜ば usually refers to hypothetical conditions or general truths.

Cultural Note:
The 〜ば form appears in many Japanese proverbs and fixed expressions. It has a somewhat literary quality and can sound more formal or traditional than 〜たら in certain contexts.

Conditional Form なら (Topic-Setting Conditionals)

The なら conditional introduces a topic and then makes a comment about it, often based on information just received. It's frequently translated as "if it's about X" or "if you're talking about X."

How to Form なら

Simply add なら after nouns, adjectives, or verbs (dictionary or plain form):

1. Nouns: [Noun] + なら
   日本にほんなら (nihon nara) - "If it's Japan..."

2. Adjectives: [Adjective] + なら
   安やすいなら (yasui nara) - "If it's cheap..."

3. Verbs: [Verb plain form] + なら
   行いくなら (iku nara) - "If you're going..."

Main Uses of なら

1. Responding to New Information
   

   A: 明日あした、東京とうきょうに行いきます。
   B: 東京とうきょうに行いくなら、
   新宿しんじゅくに行いってみてください。

   A: Ashita, Tōkyō ni ikimasu. B: Tōkyō ni iku nara, Shinjuku ni itte mite kudasai.

   A: I'm going to Tokyo tomorrow. B: If you're going to Tokyo, please try visiting Shinjuku.

   Note: Responding to information about future plans

   
   

   A: 今いま、暑あついです。
   B: 暑あついなら、窓まどを開あけましょうか。

   A: Ima, atsui desu. B: Atsui nara, mado o akemashō ka.

   A: It's hot now. B: If it's hot, shall we open the window?

   Note: Responding to information about current state

2. Making Suggestions or Recommendations
   

   日本にほんに行いくなら、

   Nihon ni iku nara, Fujisan o mita hō ga ii desu yo.

   If you're going to Japan, you should see Mt. Fuji.

   Note: Recommendation based on someone's plans

   
   

   日本語にほんごを勉強べんきょうするなら、
   アニメを見みるといいですよ。

   Nihongo o benkyō suru nara, anime o miru to ii desu yo.

   If you're studying Japanese, it's good to watch anime.

   Note: Suggestion based on someone's activity

3. Setting Up a Hypothetical Topic
   

   私わたしなら、そんなことはしません。

   Watashi nara, sonna koto wa shimasen.

   If it were me, I wouldn't do such a thing.

   Note: Hypothetical topic (oneself)

   
   

   それなら、私わたしも行いきます。

   Sore nara, watashi mo ikimasu.

   If that's the case, I'll go too.

   Note: Response to new information

Common Phrases with なら

• そうなら (sō nara) - "If that's the case"
• それなら (sore nara) - "If that's so"
• あなたなら (anata nara) - "If it were you"
• 私わたしなら (watashi nara) - "If it were me"

Comparison with Other Conditionals:
While 〜たら, 〜と, and 〜ば focus on cause-and-effect relationships, なら emphasizes the topic or premise itself.

Cultural Note:
なら is frequently used in Japanese conversations to show that you've understood what the other person has said and are now building on it. This gives Japanese dialogue a responsive, back-and-forth quality.

Comparing Conditional Forms

Japanese has four main conditional patterns, each with its own nuances and usage rules. Let's compare them side by side:

Quick Comparison Chart

Same Situation, Different Conditionals

1. With 〜たら (If/When)
   

   雨あめが降ふったら、家いえにいます。

   Ame ga futtara, ie ni imasu.

   If/When it rains, I'll stay home.

   Note: General condition with たら

2. With 〜と (Natural Consequence)
   

   雨あめが降ふると、湿度しつどが上あがります。

   Ame ga furu to, shitsudo ga agarimasu.

   When it rains, humidity increases.

   Note: Natural consequence with と

3. With 〜ば (Hypothetical)
   

   雨あめが降ふれば、傘かさが必要ひつようです。

   Ame ga fureba, kasa ga hitsuyō desu.

   If it rains, an umbrella is necessary.

   Note: Hypothetical with ば

4. With なら (Topic-Setting)
   

   雨あめなら、この傘かさを使つかってください。

   Ame nara, kono kasa o tsukatte kudasai.

   If it's rain you're worried about, please use this umbrella.

   Note: Topic-setting with なら

Cannot Be Interchanged:

• 〜と can't be used with volitional expressions in the result clause:
  Incorrect
  ボタンぼたんを押おすと、車くるまを止とめましょう。
  Correct
  ボタンぼたんを押おしたら、車くるまを止とめましょう。

Situations Where One Form is Preferred:

Native Speaker Intuition:
Japanese speakers choose conditional forms based on nuance and context rather than strict rules. With practice, you'll develop a feel for which form sounds most natural in a given situation.

Special Expressions with Conditionals

Japanese has several fixed expressions and patterns that use conditionals. These are commonly used in everyday conversation.

Common Fixed Expressions

1. 〜ばいいです - "It would be good if..." (Suggestion or Mild Advice)
   

   もっと早はやく起おきればいいですよ。

   Motto hayaku okireba ii desu yo.

   It would be good if you wake up earlier.

   Note: Mild advice using ばいい

   
   

   休やすめばいいのに。

   Yasumeba ii noni.

   You should take a rest.

   Note: Casual suggestion with ばいい + のに

2. 〜たらどうですか - "How about...?" (Suggestion)
   

   日本にほん料理りょうりを食たべたらどうですか？

   Nihon ryōri o tabetara dō desu ka?

   How about eating Japanese food?

   Note: Suggestion with たらどうですか

   
   

   明日あした、映画えいがを見みに行いったらどうですか？

   Ashita, eiga o mi ni ittara dō desu ka?

   How about going to see a movie tomorrow?

   Note: Another suggestion with たらどうですか

3. 〜といい/〜ばいい - "I hope that..." (Wishing)
   

   早はやく良よくなるといいですね。

   Hayaku yoku naru to ii desu ne.

   I hope you get better soon.

   Note: Wishing with といい

   
   

   明日あした、晴はれるといいですね。

   Ashita, hareru to ii desu ne.

   I hope it's sunny tomorrow.

   Note: Wishing with といい

4. 〜ても - "Even if..." (Concessive Conditional)
   

   雨あめが降ふっても、行いきます。

   Ame ga futte mo, ikimasu.

   Even if it rains, I'll go.

   Note: Concessive with ても

   
   

   お金かねがなくても、幸しあわせになれます。

   Okane ga nakute mo, shiawase ni naremasu.

   Even without money, one can become happy.

   Note: Concessive with ても

5. 〜なくては/〜なければ - "Must..." (Obligation)
   

   あと10分じゅっぷんで家いえを出でなければなりません。

   Ato juppun de ie o denakereba narimasen.

   I must leave home in 10 minutes.

   Note: Obligation with なければ

   
   

   明日あしたまでにレポートを
   書かかなくてはいけません。

   Ashita made ni repōto o kakanakereba ikemasen.

   I must write the report by tomorrow.

   Note: Obligation with なくては

Cultural Note:
Japanese people often use indirect expressions with conditionals to make suggestions or give advice. This is considered more polite than direct commands or statements.
For example, saying 「
早はやく行いけばいいですよ」
("It would be good if you go early")
is gentler than saying
「早はやく行いってください」
("Please go early").

Putting It All Together: Conditionals in Conversation

Now let's see how conditionals work in extended conversation. These dialogues demonstrate how to use different conditional forms in realistic contexts.

Dialogue: Making Weekend Plans

A: 週末しゅうまつ、何なにをしますか？
(Shūmatsu, nani o shimasu ka?)
"What are you doing this weekend?"

B: 天気てんきが良よかったら、山やまに行いきたいです。
(Tenki ga yokattara, yama ni ikitai desu.)
"If the weather is good, I'd like to go to the mountains."

A: 雨あめが降ふると、ハイキングは大変たいへんですよ。
(Ame ga furu to, haikingu wa taihen desu yo.)
"When it rains, hiking is difficult."

B: そうですね。雨あめなら、美術館びじゅつかんに行いこうと思おもいます。
(Sō desu ne. Ame nara, bijutsukan ni ikō to omoimasu.)
"That's true. If it's rain, I'm thinking of going to a museum."

A: 早はやく行いけば、混こんでいないかもしれませんね。
(Hayaku ikeba, konde inai kamoshiremasen ne.)
"If you go early, it might not be crowded."

Dialogue: Giving Advice About Japan

A: 来月らいげつ、日本にほんに行いきます。おすすめは？
(Raigetsu, Nihon ni ikimasu. Osusume wa?)
"I'm going to Japan next month. Any recommendations?"

B: 東京とうきょうに行いくなら、浅草あさくさがいいですよ。
(Tōkyō ni iku nara, Asakusa ga ii desu yo.)
"If you're going to Tokyo, Asakusa is good."

A: 京都きょうとにも行いきたいです。
(Kyōto ni mo ikitai desu.)
"I also want to go to Kyoto."

B: 京都きょうとに行いったら、お寺てらを見みてください。
春はるになると、桜さくらがとても綺麗きれいです。
(Kyōto ni ittara, o-tera o mite kudasai. Haru ni naru to, sakura ga totemo kirei desu.)
"When you go to Kyoto, please see the temples. When spring comes, the cherry blossoms are very beautiful."

A: 日本語にほんごが話はなせれば、もっと楽たのしいでしょうね。
(Nihongo ga hanaseba, motto tanoshii deshō ne.)
"If I could speak Japanese, it would be more fun, wouldn't it?"

B: 簡単かんたんな日本語にほんごを覚おぼえたらどうですか？
(Kantan na nihongo o oboetara dō desu ka?)
"How about learning some simple Japanese?"

Additional Everyday Conditional Expressions

Cultural Note:
In Japanese conversation, conditionals are often used to be polite and indirect. Rather than making direct statements or requests, Japanese speakers often frame their ideas as hypotheticals or gentle suggestions using conditional forms. This is considered more thoughtful and less imposing on the listener.