1. と 　- when / if > (always)
  2. たら - when / if > (then)
  3. なら - when / if > (first)
  4. ば　 - if
  5. もし - emphasis on: if

“If I go”, can be phrased with: * 行く * 行っ * 行く * 行け

  • A、B > If / When A happens, B happens.
  • A、B > If / When A happens, , B happens.
  • A、B > If / When A is going to happen, B happens .

Note that と、なら and ば cannot be used for something that happened in the past. Only can be used here.

  • 食べすぎ、気持ち悪くなった。　 I ate too much, I felt sick.

と

Expresses facts or things that always happen. It cannot express wish, will or request.

  • Conditional　＞　Grammar　＞　Outcome

  • Verb Dictionary-form　＞　と

  • 春になる、さくらが咲きます。　

  • spring comes, cherry blossoms () bloom.

  • ここを押す、電気がつく。

  • you press here, the light () turns on.

  • ここにお金をれる、きっぷが出てくる。

  • you insert money here, a ticket () comes out.

  • 朝起きる、水を飲む。

  • I wake up in the morning, I drink water.

It can also describe things that happened in the past.

  • スーパーに行、セールをしてい。
  • I went to the supermarket they a sale.
と、とき

  • デスノートに人の名前を書く、その人は死ぬ。　

  • you write a persons name in the deathnote, that person () dies.

  • デスノートに人の名前を書く、その人は死ぬ。　

  • you write a persons name in the deathnote, that person () dies.

    • Puts a lot more emphasis on “the moment I am writing…”, rather than: when A happens, then B.

  • 歩く、お母さんから電話が来た。　

  • I was walking, I () got a phone call from my mother (Does not make much sense).

  • 歩いていた、お母さんから電話が来た。　

  • I was walking, I got a phone call from my mother (Here, A has nothing to do with B, its not a direct cause).

  • ここを押す、痛い。　 I press here, it () hurts.

    • If it has been that way for quite a while and it always hurts.

  • ここを押す、痛い。　 I press here, it hurts.

    • Emphasis on when, the time, when you press.
    • It sounds like an answer to the question: “When does it hurt?” > “When I press here…”

  • 目をじる、何も見えない。　 you close your eyes, you () can see nothing.

    • じる　（とじる）- Is used for closing eyes, books.
    • める　（しめる）- Is used for closing doors, windows.

  • 眼鏡をかけない、何も見えない。　 I do not wear glasses, I () can see nothing.

  • 電気を消す、部屋が暗くなる。　 you turn off the light, the room () becomes dark.

    • 暗い + なる　＞　暗なる

  • 電気をつける、部屋が明るくなる。　 you turn on the light, the room () becomes bright.

    • 明るい + なる　＞　明るなる

  • このボタンを押す、飲み物がてくる。　 you press this button, a drink () comes out.

  • 水に携帯を落す、壊れる。　 you drop your phone in water it () breaks.

  • 牛乳を飲む、お腹が痛くなる。　 I drink milk, my stomach () hurts.

    • 痛くなる is used here, to indicate it happens you drink it (become hurt).

  • アップルパイを食べる、幸せになるます。　 I eat apple pie, I () became happy.

  • アップルパイを食べ、太る。　 I eat apple pie, I () became fat.

  • お酒を飲み、気持ち悪くなる。　 I drink alcohol, I () became sick.

  • する、話せなくなる。　 I get nervous, I () cannot speak.

  • ピノキオはをつく、鼻がびる。　 Pinokkio lies, his nose () grows.

  • 休まない、間違えちゃうよ。　 I do not rest, you will () make a mistake (and you will not like that).

  • ダブルクリックしない、ファイルがけれないよ。　 you do not double-click, you () cannot open the file.

  • ピカチュウがまえらない、泣きたくなる。　 I cannot catch Pikachu, I () feel like I want to cry.

There is a special usage of と, to indicate a suprising outcome. * ランプをこする、ジーニーがれました。　 I rubbed the lamp, () a Genie appeared. * 「plain present tense」 と　「past tense」

  • 右足し、左足す、歩ける。　 you move your right leg forward your left leg forward, you () can walk.

たら

Expresses both hypothetical and definite situations (like と).

It is used often for what-if stories and can express wish, will or request.

  • Conditional　＞　Grammar　＞　Outcome
  • Verb た-form　＞　ら

  • ひまになっ、教えて。

  • Let me know you are free.

  • you are free, let me know.

  • 晴れ、海に行きたい。 (Hypothetical situation)

  • I want to go to the beach it is sunny.

  • it is sunny, I want to go to the beach.

  • 昼になっ、出かける。 (Definite situation)

  • it is noon, I will go out.

  • 空を飛べ、世界一周したい。 (Hypothetical, What-if situation)

  • I could fly in the sky, I would like to go around the world.

  • 家に帰っ、ゲームをしてもいい？ (expresses a request)

  • I get home, can I play games?

Comparison with と

「」can do all the things that can.

  • 食べすぎる、太る。　
  • I eat too much, I () get fat.
  • 食べすぎ、太る。　
  • I eat too much, () I get fat.

Still, sounds more natural if something happens.

  • ピーナッツを食べる、死んじゃう。　
  • I eat peanuts, I () die. (Its as good as certain here)
  • ピーナッツを食べ、死んじゃう。　
  • I eat peanuts () I die. (But, it might not happen, its not always)

Past form, it has the same meaning and the same nuances.

  • スーパーに行、セールをしてい。
  • I went to the supermarket they a sale.
  • スーパーに行、セールをしてい。
  • I went to the supermarket they a sale.

But remember, と cannot express requests.

  • 寒い、服を着て。
  • 寒かっ、服を着て。
  • it is cold, wear clothes.　Expresses a request

If clause 1 happens, then clause 2 happens.

  • 明日雨が降っ、家にいる。　

  • it rains, () I will stay home.

  • 勉強しなかっ、試験に合格できない。　

  • I do not study, () I cannot pass the exam.

  • またれ、になる。　

  • I am late again, () I will get fired.

  • またをつい、さない。　

  • you lie again, () I will not forgive you.

  • 車を運転し、をこすと思う。　

  • I drive a car, () I think I will cause an accident.

  • 車を運転し、をこすと思う、運転したくない。　

  • I do not want to drive, I drive a car, () I think I will cause an accident.

  • 質問があっ、せず何でも聞いてください。　

  • you have a question, () feel free to ask me anything.

  • お金があっ、何がしたいですか。　

  • you had money, () what would you do?

  • お金があっ、を旅行する。　

  • I had money, () I would travel around the world.

  • 彼女がい、このレストランにれてくる。　

  • I had a girlfriend, () I would bring her to this restaurant.

    • 「object」を持ってくる。　To bring (object)
    • 「location」に「someone」をれてくる。To bring (someone) to (location)

  • 明日はれ、ピクニックをしましょう。　

  • in is sunny tomorrow, lets have a picnic.

In this case, you cannot use と, because it does not always happens, unless:

  • 晴れる、ピクニックをする。　
  • it is sunny, I have a picnic.

Remember that does not always have to mean “” it can also mean “”.

  • 食べすぎ、太った。　

  • I ate to much, I got fat (its already a fact, it happened).

  • 食べすぎ、太った。　

  • I ate to much, I got fat (Here it emphasises the time. It sounds like an answer to: “When did you get fat?”).

  • ドアをっ、足の骨がれた。　

  • I kicked the door, () I broke my leg.

  • ドアをっ、足の骨がれた。　

  • I kicked the door, I broke my leg.

  • マリオはキノコをったら、大きくなった。　

  • Mario took the mushroom, () he got bigger.

  • し、どうする？　

  • What I fail?

  • 俺が実はスパイダーマン、どうする？　What 　I am actually Spiderman?

    • Noun +

  • かわい。　

  • it is cute.

  • その映画が面白、見る。　

  • the movie is interesting, () I will watch it.

    • い-adjective + 　(past tense + ら)

  • 静か。　

  • it is quiet.

    • な-adjective + (past tense + ら)

Negation forms

  • Verb + なかったら

    • 行かなかったら　 I dont go

  • い-adjective (い > く) + なかったら

  • な-adjective (な > じゃ) + なかったら

  • Noun + じゃ + なかったら

  • 私が行、どうする？　

  • I don’t go, what do I do?

  • 間に合、先に行ってね。　

  • I don’t make it on time, () go ahead (without me).

  • 好きじゃ、食べなくてもいいよ。　

  • you don’t like it, () you don’t have to eat it.

Past form
  • 食べすぎ、気持ち悪くなった。　
  • I ate too much, I felt sick.
て and たら

There is also a difference in the nuance to “then”.

  • テレビをみて、寝た。　

  • I watched television and went to sleep.

    • But note that clause 1 is not a cause for clause 2. Its an order of things.

  • テレビをみ、寝た。　

  • I watched television, went to sleep.

    • Here, watching television is the cause of going to sleep.

  • ~、…て（ください）

    • When / if ~, (please do…)

  • 暑かっ、窓を開けてください。　

  • it is hot, please open the window.

  • 見つかっ、電話してください。　

  • you find it, please call me.

See also the ば form for these request forms.

なら

なら is used a a conditional if.

  • Conditional　＞　Grammar　＞　Outcome
  • Verb Dictionary-form　＞　なら

Note, sometimes の or ん is placed before なら、but it does not change the meaning.

  • 日本に行く、まずカメラを買う。　
  • I go to Japan, I will get a camera first.
    • Here, you cannot use because you want to do something before the other thing happens. should be used instead.
    • Clause 2 happens first, then clause 1 happens.

  • 東京に行く、がおすすめだよ。

  • you go to Tokyo, I recommend Asakusa!

  • コンビニに行く、コーラを買ってきて。

  • you go to the convenience store, buy me a Cola.

Difference between たら and なら.

  • になっ、お金持ちになる。　

  • I become president, () I will be a rich person.

    • (clause 2 is a direct result of clause 1).

  • になっ、お金持ちになる。　

  • I become president, () I will be a rich person.

    • (First you need the money, in order to become president).

  • 日本に住ん、日本語が話せるようになる。

  • I live in Japan, () I will be able to speak in Japanese.

  • 日本で働きたい、日本語を勉強しなきゃ。

  • I want to live in Japan, () I must study Japanese.

  • 明日雨が降っ、ピクニックに行かないほうがいい。

  • it rains tomorrow, we should not go for a picnic.

    • (This does not sound like you just found out about the rain, but more like: if A then B. There is no context)

  • 明日雨が降る、ピクニックに行かないほうがいい。

  • it rains tomorrow, we should not go for a picnic.

    • (You already know it might rain, so given the context of A, then B.)

  • 頭が痛かっ、薬を飲んだほうがいいよ。

  • your head hurts, you should take medicine.

    • (no context, just a statement)

  • 頭が痛い、薬を飲んだほうがいいよ。

  • your head hurts, you should take medicine.

    • (context, maybe your friend told you he or she has a headache)

なら is also used in situations where you do something because someone said so. If you say/do A, I will do B.

  • がそう言う。

  • you (senpai) say so.

  • がそう言う、　私も行きます。　 you (senpai) say so, I will go too.

  • が好き、この曲はすごいはず。

  • senpai likes it, then this music it must be awesome.

  • がタバコをやめる、私もタバコをやめる。

  • senpai quits smoking, I will quit smoking too.

例文

  • ドレスをかう、まずせる。

  • I buy a dress, () I will lose weight first.

  • 子供がほしい、結婚しなきゃ（だめだ）。

  • you want a child, () you must get married.

    • なきゃ（だめだ）means: its no good if you dont do…

  • に行きたいんですが。

  • I would like to get to Shibuya station.

  • ↳ に行きたい、　JRにりえてください。

  • you would like to go to Shibuya station please transfer to the JR Yamanote line.

  • を使う、外に出てください。

  • you want to use your phone, please go outside.

  • けたくない、強くならなきゃだめだ！

  • you do not want to lose, you must become stronger!

    • 強くなら　To become strong

  • 日本語が上手になりたい、　もっと練習しなきゃ。

  • you want to become better at Japanese, you have to practice.

  • がありますか。

  • Do you have green tea?

  • ↳ あります。

  • We have black tea ( green tea)

  • Lサイズがありますか。

  • Do you have size L?

  • ↳ XLあります。　

  • We have XL ( L).

  • 大阪に行ったことがありますか。

  • Have you been to Osaka?

  • ↳ 京都行ったことがあります。

  • I have been to Kyoto ( Osaka).

  • あなた出来る！

  • You can do it ().

  • 五分話せます。

  • I can speak for 5 minutes ().

ば

It emphasises the condition, as a means to achieve your goal.

It is also used to ask for advice.

The outcome of the condition for ば is usually a desirable event.

  • Conditional　＞　Grammar　＞　Outcome

  • Verb え-vowel-form　＞　ば

  • 読む　＞　読め　＞　読めば　(五段 verbs)

  • 食べる　＞　食べ　＞　食べれば　(一段 verbs)

  • する　＞　すれば

  • る　＞　れば

  • A、B > If / When A happens, , B happens. There is more emphasis on the B clause here.

  • A、B > If A happens, B happens. There is more emphasis on the A clause here.

  • これを読め、わかります。

  • you read this, you will understand.

  • セールに行け、服を安く買える。

  • you go to a sale, you can buy clothes cheaply.

    • The emphasis is on the sale here.

  • 質問があれ、いつでも聞いてください。

  • you have any questions, just ask anytime.

    • ある is used to express a state of being.

  • どうすれ、日本語が上手になりますか。　(Asking for advice)

  • How can I become better at Japanese?

  • 美味しい物を食べれ、幸せになる。

  • I eat delicious things, I will become happy.

ない-form, negative form
  • 行く　＞　行かない　＞　行かなければ
ば and と

Same meaning. But と is more factual and ば emphasises the condition.

  • ここにお金をれ、きっぷが出てくる。
  • you insert money here, a ticket () comes out.
  • ここにお金をれ、きっぷが出てくる。
  • you insert money here, a ticket () comes out.
ば and たら

  • があっ、飛べる。

  • I had wings, I could fly.　（focus on what happens if you have wings）

  • があれ、飛べる。

  • I had wings, I could fly.　（focus on the wings themselves, if only I had wings）

  • お金があっ、家がかえる。

  • I had money, I could buy a house.　(emphasis on what would happen, you may already have the money)

  • お金があれ、家が買える。

  • I had money, I could buy a house.　(emphasis on the if-part, maybe you do not have the money)

  • 晴れ、海に行きたい。 (Hypothetical situation)

  • it is sunny, I want to go to the beach.

  • 晴れ、海に行きたい。 (Hypothetical situation)

  • it is sunny, I want to go to the beach.

Conjugation for verbs is done by changing to and add .

  • 食べる　＞　食べ
  • 見る　　＞　見
  • 書く　　＞　書
  • 話す　　＞　話
  • する　　＞　す
  • る　　＞　

For adjectives:

  • い-adjectives change to:
  • 寒い　　　　＞　寒
  • かわいい　　＞　かわい
  • いい　　　　＞　よ
  • かっこいい　＞　かっこよ

な-adjectives tend to be used only in formal speech. The たら form is mostly used.

  • な-adjectives change to: /
    • 「」is very official in tone.
    • 「」is only used in writing.
  • 静かな　＞　静か　＞　静か　 it is quiet.

ある and いる are exceptional verbs that can be used with even when clause B is “~て（request）”. * Adjective / ある / いる + ば、…て（ください）。　When / if, (please do…)

  • 暑、窓を開けてください。
  • it is hot, please open the window.

It is also used for asking and giving advice.

  • どうすれ、日本語が上手になりますか。

  • How can I improve my Japanese?　(lit. I do how…)

  • もっと勉強すれ、日本語が上手になるよ。

  • I study more, my Japanese will improve.　(the outcome will be good)

Or expressions of regret, like: “it would have been good if…”

  • 試験の前に、もっと勉強すれよかった。

  • I wish I studied more before the exam.

  • (lit. It would have been good I studied more…)

  • 飛行機に乗る前に、食べれよかった。

  • I wish I had eaten before getting on the airplane.

  • (lit. It would have been good I had eaten…)

  • 電話番号を聞けよかった。

  • I wish I had asked her phone number.

  • (lit. It would have been good I asked…)

  • カメラを持ってくれよかった。

  • I wish I had brought my camera.

  • (lit. It would have been good I brought…)

And its negation form:

  • パーテイーになけれよかった。
  • I wish I didn’t come to the party.
  • (lit. It would have been good I did not come…)
    • る　＞　ない
  • 何も言わなけれよかった。　
  • I wish I did not say anything.
  • (lit. It would have been good I did not say…)
    • 言う　＞　言わない
  • を教えなけれよかった。
  • I wish I did not tell my secret.
  • (lit. It would have been good I did not tell/teach…)
    • 教える　＞　教えない
  • このゲームを買わなけれよかった。
  • I wish I did not buy this game.
  • (lit. It would have been good I did not buy…)
    • 買う　＞　買わない

もし

Puts more on “if” to make it hypothetical. Is used in combination with: たら、なら and ば.

It usually is at the start of the sentence.

  • もし一億円あっ、どうする？

  • What would you do you had 100 million yen?

  • もししてい、何て言う？

  • What would you say if I am pregnant?　(here, a lot more emphasis is put on that it is hypothetical)

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