Let's try speaking using conditional sentences! / Japanese Learning Support LLC | blog

Let's try speaking using conditional sentences!

The temperature has been fluctuating a lot lately, making it easy to catch a cold.

You have caught a cold. Your friends are worried about you.

What kind of conversation will you have?

Friend: Are you okay?

You: It's okay. I'll be fine soon after taking the medicine.

This time, we will study the grammar "~ba~".

In the example sentence above, we used the phrase, "If you take the medicine, you'll be cured right away."

This means that even if you catch a cold, you will get better if you take medicine.

This is used when you want to show that clearing the previous conditions will result in this outcome.

Today's menu

1. How to use "~ba~"

2. The difference between "~to~" and "~tara~"

3. Let's practice.

4. Summary

How to use and create "~ba"

Sample 1: It will get cooler when it rains.

Sample 2: Cherry blossoms will bloom in the spring.

Sample 3: Press this button to get your change.

Sample 4: Turning this knob will increase the volume.

Thus, once the previous condition (rain) is cleared,

→ (It will get cooler) That's the result that follows.

This grammar uses a new form called the conditional form.

Let's look at how to form conditional sentences.

I'm sure you all understand how to group verbs now.

Japanese verbs are divided into three groups.

If you're not yet familiar with verb groups, please review those first before learning this grammar.

Group 1 verbs

I'm going → I'm going [i] → [e]

If you drink

I will talk → If I talk

Press → Press

Turn it → Turn it

If it shakes → If it shakes

For group 1 verbs, change the [i] before "masu" to [e] and add "ba".

Ikimasu → Ikeba

Group 2 verbs

Tabemasu → Tabereba

nemasu → nereba

I'll look it up → If you look it up

I'll see → If I look

imasu → irareba

For Group 2 verbs, you just remove "masu" and add "reba."

Tabemasu → Tabereba

Group 3 verbs

shimasu → doreba

Come → If you come

Let's just memorize the Group 3 verbs as they are.

Verbs like "I clean" and "I click" can also be expressed in the form "If I clean" and "If I click."

i-adjective

High → If it's high

Cheap → If it's cheap

Hot → If it's hot

For i-adjectives, remove the final "i" and add "kereba".

High → If it's high

Na-adjective

Benri → Benri nara

If you're free → If you're free

For na-adjectives, add "nara" at the end.

Convenient → If it's convenient

noun

Rain → If it's rain

student → if you are a student

Nouns are treated the same way as na-adjectives; you add "nara" at the end.

Rain → If it's rain

The difference between "~to" and "~tara"

Two grammatical structures that are very similar are "~to" and "~tara".

For example, consider this sentence.

Cherry blossoms bloom in the spring.

・Cherry blossoms will bloom in the spring.

・Cherry blossoms will bloom in the spring.

All three of these sentences are correct.

So, are "~to," "~tara," and "~reba" all the same in meaning and used in the same way?

Indeed, in terms of conditions, they can often be used in the same way.

However, in reality, you need to use them appropriately depending on the situation, so let me explain.

How to use "~to"

• Cherry blossoms bloom in spring. → (Cherry blossoms always bloom when spring arrives.)

The particle "~to" is used to mean that when A happens, B always happens.

for example,

Press this button to receive your change.

Pulling that lever will stop the robot.

If you turn right at the corner where the convenience store is, you will find the hospital.

If you cross that bridge and go 100 meters, you'll find a park.

As such, it is often used in situations such as explaining how to use a machine or giving directions.

The way you use the machines and the location of the buildings are always the same, right?

Press this button → You will always receive change.

Turn right at the corner where the convenience store is located → there is always a hospital there.

In other words, "~to" is used to mean that when you do something, the result will always be the same.

Therefore, it's not used for things that only happen once or that only occur once.

Furthermore, words expressing your own will, inviting someone, or making requests, such as "~let's," "~I want to," "~won't you," or "~please," cannot be added at the end.

× If it's sunny tomorrow, I'd like to go to the park.

× Could you give this to my aunt when you see her?

How to use "~tara"

• Cherry blossoms will bloom when spring arrives. → (Cherry blossoms will bloom when spring arrives. / Cherry blossoms will bloom after spring has arrived.)

There are several ways to use "~tara".

for example,

Press here and water will come out.

If I won the lottery, I'd like to buy a car.

If it rains tomorrow, the soccer match will be canceled.

Please contact me when you arrive at the station. I'll come pick you up.

・When you get home, the first thing you should do is wash your hands.

In this way, it can be used to say that the result will always be the same, just like "and," and it can also be used to mean "if," referring to future events that haven't happened yet.

- If I win the lottery, I want to buy a car. → I haven't won the lottery yet. I don't know if I'll win or not.

It can also mean "after doing something."

You can also add words like "~let's," "~want to," "~won't you," and "~please" at the end.

Please contact me when you arrive at the station. → After the action of arriving at the station is completed.

How to use "~reba"

• Cherry blossoms will bloom in spring. → (Cherry blossoms will bloom when spring arrives; they won't bloom in winter.)

It can be used to indicate that the result will always be the same, just like "~to" and "~tara," and it can also be used to mean "if," referring to future events that haven't happened yet.

Press this button to open the window.

If I win 1 million yen, I'll go on a trip abroad.

However, it does not have the meaning of "after doing something," like "~tara."

Please call me when you arrive at the station.

Let's practice

Now, let's practice.

The answer will be written at the very bottom of this blog.

Example: I'll ask Mr. Tanaka; he knows how to fix the computer.

→If you ask Mr. Tanaka, he'll know how to fix your computer.

① Press this button to reserve a seat.

→ .

② You can look it up in books and learn more details.

→ .

③ Turn this knob; the radio volume will increase.

→ .

④ Use this app; it will translate automatically.

→ .

⑤ I'll go to a student party and make new friends.

→ .

⑥ It's cheap / I'll buy it.

→ .

⑦ The camera is heavy, so I won't bring it.

→ .

⑧ I'm free tomorrow. Want to go see a movie?

→ .

⑨ It's convenient; I'd like to use it.

→ .

⑩ I'm a student - I'll get a discount.

→ .

summary

How was it? This time, we learned about the new form, the "conditional form," and grammar using the conditional form.

This is a frequently used grammatical structure, so try to memorize the form as well.

For those taking the JLPT this summer, the next three months will be a busy time for studying.

Please take care of your health and continue to enjoy learning Japanese.

That's all for today!

See you again in the next blog post!

Answers to the practice problems

① You can reserve a seat by pressing this button.

② You can learn more details by looking it up in books.

③Turning this will increase the volume of the radio.

④This app will translate automatically for you.

⑤ You can make new friends by going to student parties.

⑥ If it's cheap, I'll buy it.

⑦ If the camera is heavy, I won't bring it.

⑧ If you're free tomorrow, would you like to go see a movie?

⑨ If it's convenient, I'd like to use it.

⑩ Students receive a discount.