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ConditionN5N47 rules

Conditionals: と, たら, ば, なら — and how to choose

Japanese has four conditionals where English has one 'if', and they are not interchangeable: と for automatic results, たら for a specific case, ば for a general one, なら for picking up what was just said. This page puts them side by side.

Also known astara nara ba toたら なら ば とjapanese conditionalsif in japanese

1
［clause］とき、…とき — when
Condition

Clause + とき sets the time: “when …”. The verb tense before とき matters.

日本へ　行くとき、カメラを　買いました。

にほんへ　いくとき、カメラを　かいました。

When I went to Japan, I bought a camera (before going).

とき = “at the time when”. The form before とき shows timing: 行くとき (dictionary form) = before/while going; 行ったとき (た-form) = after having arrived. Nouns and adjectives connect with の/な/い as usual.

In the textbooksMinna I, lesson 23

2
［V dict］と、…と — whenever / natural result
Condition

Dictionary form + と = “whenever A, (always) B” — automatic consequence.

この　ボタンを　押すと、ドアが　開きます。

この　ボタンを　おすと、ドアが　あきます。

When you press this button, the door opens.

This と joins two clauses where B inevitably/naturally follows A — used for operating instructions, directions and natural laws. The clause before と is always in dictionary (or ない) form.

In the textbooksMinna I, lesson 23

3
［V-た］ら、…たら — if / when
Condition

た-form + ら sets a condition: “if/when A happens, B”.

雨が　降ったら、行きません。

あめが　ふったら、いきません。

If it rains, I won't go.

Add ら to the plain past (た-form) of verbs, adjectives and the copula: 降った→降ったら, 安かった→安かったら, 暇だった→暇だったら. It is the most flexible “if/when”, used for one-off, specific conditions.

In the textbooksMinna I, lesson 25

4
［V-て］も、…ても — even if
Condition

て-form + も = “even if A, still B” (contrary to expectation).

雨が　降っても、行きます。

あめが　ふっても、いきます。

Even if it rains, I'll go.

て-form + も concedes a condition that does NOT change the outcome: “even if / even though”. Adjectives: 〜くても (高くても); nouns/な-adj: 〜でも (雨でも).

In the textbooksMinna I, lesson 25

5
～ば、…ば — if (general condition)
Condition

A hypothetical condition: 行く→行けば, 安い→安ければ, ない→なければ.

天気が　よければ、出かけます。

てんきが　よければ、でかけます。

If the weather is good, I'll go out.

Verbs: う-row → え-row + ば (行く→行けば, 飲む→飲めば). い-adjectives: 〜い → 〜ければ (安い→安ければ). Used for general “if A then B” relationships.

In the textbooksMinna II, lesson 35

6
～なら、…なら — if it's the case that
Condition

Responds to a topic: “if (we're talking about) A, then…”.

京都へ　行くなら、バスが　便利です。

きょうとへ　いくなら、バスが　べんりです。

If you're going to Kyoto, the bus is convenient.

なら takes up something just mentioned or assumed and gives advice/opinion about it. It attaches to the plain form or a noun (日本語なら…).

In the textbooksMinna II, lesson 35

7
～場合は、…場合は — in the case of
Condition

“In the case that A, (do) B”: plain form / N の + 場合は.

故障の　場合は、ボタンを　押してください。

こしょうの　ばあいは、ボタンを　おしてください。

In case of a breakdown, please press the button.

場合 (“case, situation”) attaches to the plain form, an い/な-adjective, or a noun + の (地震の 場合は). It sets up what to do in a particular situation.

In the textbooksMinna II, lesson 45