6.4 KiB
Conditional
と
V
い-Adj
な-Adj + だ
N + だ
+ と
Means "if", "whenever". Used when a result is known or assumed to be true, aka a logical cause-effect relationship. Cannot be used if the result is uncertain. So it cannot be an intention, a request, a desire, an order, etc.
[!info] Example {急|いそ}いでない==と==、{遅刻|ちこく}に{着|つ}きます。 If you don't hurry, you'll arrive late.
なら
V (casual) + (の)
い-Adj + (の)
な-Adj + (の)
N
+ なら
Means "in the case that/of". The second part of the sentence is generally an opinion, a request or a suggestion. Adding の adds emphasis. ならば can be used in more formal contexts.
[!info] Example {車|くるま}を{使|つか}う==なら==、{気|き}を{付|つ}けて。 If you're using a car, be careful.
たら
V (た)
い-Adj い + かった
な-Adj + だった
N + だった
+ ら
Means "if" or "when". Describes a condition (the first action must be completed before the second action). Used for hypothetical situations and certain results. It is the main word used for conditional.
[!info] Example {安|やす}==かったら==、{買|か}う。 (If / When) it's cheap, I'll buy it.
場合
V (casual)
い-Adj
な-Adj + な
N + の
+ 場合は
{場合|ば|あい} means "in the case of". The second part explains what to do in the situation (instructions, advices, etc). More formal than たら.
[!info] Example {地震|じ|しん}==の場合は==、エレベーターを使わないでください。 In case of an earthquake, please don't use the elevators.
ば・なければ
Positive form:
V (う -> え)
い-Adj + けれ
な-Adj + なら
N + なら
+ ば
Negative form:
V ない
い-Adj ない
な-Adj + で
N + で
+ なければ
See Conjugation Basics for verbs (the う sound transforms the the corresponding え sound).
Means "if". A conditional relationship without the cause-effect relationship of と. If A happens, then B. Situations must be hypothetical. Generally used for one-time results.
[!info] Examples 雨が止==めれば==、店に行く。 If it stops raining, I'll go to the store.
おいしい==でなければ==、食べません。 If it's not good, I will not eat it.
ばいい
Used for hope about a result. "It would be good if". Can also be used to give an advice, in a meaning similar to "should".
[!info] Example {宝|たから}くじが{当|あ}たれ==ばいい==ね。 It would be good if I win the lottery...
ばよかった
Used for regret about something that would have been better if done. "It would have been good if". More emphasis can be added by adding のに.
[!info] Example {上着|うわぎ}を{持|も}て==ばよかった==。 I should have brought a jacket.
ば～ほど
V (ば)
+
V (る)
+ ほど
い-Adj い + ければ
+
い-Adj
+ ほど
な-Adj + なら
+
な-Adj + な
+ ほど
Means "the more... the more". Used by repeating the same verb.
[!info] Example {自転車|じてんしゃ}をすれ==ば==する==ほど==、{上手|じょうず}になります。 The more you bike, the better you get.
Summing up
- ==と== has a logical cause-effect relationship. Certain result.
- ==なら== usually used for opinion, request, suggestion.
- ==V-たら== describes a condition to be met for the result. Usually used for hypothetical situation.
- ==場合== explains what to do in a described situation. More formal than V-たら.
- ==V-ば== is a conditional relationship, close to V-たら. Used for hypothetical situations, generally for for one-time results.
とすれば・としたら・とすると
V
い-Adj
な-Adj + だ
N + だ
+ とすれば・としたら・とすると
Means "if we assume that A, B". としたら is more casual than とすれば. とすると is used for an action that is likely to happen.
[!info] Example {電車|でんしゃ}で行く==とすると==、２０{分|っぷん}かかるです。 If you were to go by train, it would take 20 minutes.
もし(も)
Used with conditional forms ば, と, たら and ても (see TeF (4) - even if#Even if ても・でも). もしも puts more emphasis than もし.
[!info] Example ==もし==ペットが{病気|びょうき}になったら、{動物|どうぶつ}{病院|びょういん}に行かなきゃ。 If you pet gets sick, you have to bring it to the veterinarian clinic.