jpg-quartz/Conjugation/Conditional.md

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.