In Japanese grammar, there are several ways to express conditionals or "if" clauses. Three common forms are the TARA form of verbs, NARA conditional, and BA form conditional. In this lesson, we will explore each of these forms and provide examples to illustrate their usage.
**1. TARA Form of Verbs (～たら)**
The TARA form is used to express a simple conditional statement, similar to "if" in English. It is formed by adding ～たら to the plain past tense of verbs.
**Formation:**
TA form + TARA
TABERU TABETA TABETARA
NOMU NONDA NONDARA
MIRU MITA MITARA
KAU KATTA KATTARA
**Usage:**
The TARA form is used for specific real-life conditions and factual situations. It implies that if a certain condition is met, a particular action or consequence will follow.
**Examples:**
1. お金【おかね】があったら、旅行【りょこう】に行【い】きます。
If I have money, I will go on a trip.
2. 雨【あめ】が降【ふ】ったら、中止【ちゅうし】にします。
If it rains, we will cancel it.
3. もっと勉強【べんきょう】すれば、試験【しけん】に合格【ごうかく】できる。
If I study more, I can pass the exam.
*****BA FORM ****
In Japanese, both "tara" (also known as the "past conditional" or "if" clause) and "ba" (conditional) are used to express conditional sentences. However, they are used in slightly different contexts and convey different nuances.
1. **"Tara" (たら)**:
- "Tara" is used to express conditional situations based on past events or hypothetical situations. It indicates that the result in the main clause depends on a specific condition in the past or an unrealized situation.
- "Tara" is commonly used to talk about the consequences of a past action or to make hypothetical statements.
- The verb form after "tara" is in the plain past tense.
- Example: If I had money, I would buy a new car.
お金があったら、新しい車を買うのに。 (Okane ga attara, atarashii kuruma o kau noni.)
2. **" BA" (conditional)**:
- "Ba" is used to express potential future events, suggestions, or general conditions. It indicates that the result in the main clause is contingent on a specific condition being met in the present or future.
- "Ba" is commonly used to make general statements about what might happen under certain conditions.
- The verb form after "ba" is in the plain non-past (dictionary) form.
- Example: If it rains, I will stay at home.
雨が降れば、家にいます。(Ame ga fureba, ie ni imasu.)
To summarize, "tara" is used for past or hypothetical conditions and is followed by verbs in the plain past tense, while "ba" is used for potential future conditions and is followed by verbs in the plain non-past (dictionary) form. The distinction lies in the timing and nature of the conditions being discussed.
1. If it rains, I will stay at home.
雨が降れば、家にいるでしょう。
(Ame ga fureba, ie ni iru deshō.)
2. If you study hard, you will pass the exam.
一生懸命勉強すれば、試験に合格するでしょう。
(Isshōkenmei benkyō sureba, shiken ni gōkaku suru deshō.)
3. If I have time, I will call you.
時間があれば、あなたに電話します。
(Jikan ga areba, anata ni denwa shimasu.)
4. If he goes to Tokyo, he will meet his friend.
彼が東京に行けば、友達に会うでしょう。
(Kare ga Tōkyō ni ikeba, tomodachi ni au deshō.)
5. If she reads that book, she will understand the topic.
彼女がその本を読めば、そのトピックを理解するでしょう。
(Kanojo ga sono hon o yomeba, sono topikku o rikai suru deshō.)
Remember that the "ba" form is used for potential future events and expresses the condition under which the result will occur. In English, "if" is often used to introduce conditional clauses, and the same concept applies to the Japanese "ba" form.
1. If it rains, I will stay at home.
雨が降れば、家にいるでしょう。
(Ame ga fureba, ie ni iru deshō.)
2. If you study hard, you will pass the exam.
一生懸命勉強すれば、試験に合格するでしょう。
(Isshōkenmei benkyō sureba, shiken ni gōkaku suru deshō.)
3. If I have time, I will call you.
時間があれば、あなたに電話します。
(Jikan ga areba, anata ni denwa shimasu.)
4. If he goes to Tokyo, he will meet his friend.
彼が東京に行けば、友達に会うでしょう。
(Kare ga Tōkyō ni ikeba, tomodachi ni au deshō.)
5. If she reads that book, she will understand the topic.
彼女がその本を読めば、そのトピックを理解するでしょう。
(Kanojo ga sono hon o yomeba, sono topikku o rikai suru deshō.)
Remember that the "ba" form is used for potential future events and expresses the condition under which the result will occur. In English, "if" is often used to introduce conditional clauses, and the same concept applies to the Japanese "ba" form.
** NARA Conditional (～なら)**
The NARA conditional is used to express general or hypothetical conditions. It is formed by adding ～なら to the plain form of verbs and adjectives or nouns.
**Formation:**
- For verbs: Use the plain form + なら
- For adjectives: Drop the い ending and add ければ (conjugated form of だ) + なら
- For nouns: Add なら after the noun
**Usage:**
The NARA conditional is often used for giving advice, making suggestions, or discussing hypothetical situations.
**Examples:**
1. もっと早【はや】く来【く】れば、良【よ】かったのに。
If you had come earlier, it would have been better.
2. もし彼【かれ】が行【い】くなら、私【わたし】も行【い】きます。
If he goes, I will go too.
3. お金【おかね】がないなら、友達【ともだち】と一緒【いっしょ】に遊【あそ】びましょう。
If you don't have money, let's hang out with friends.
**Kanji Meanings:**
- 旅行【りょこう】(ryokou) - Trip, travel
- 中止【ちゅうし】(chūshi) - Cancellation, suspension
- 勉強【べんきょう】(benkyou) - Study, learning
- 試験【しけん】(shiken) - Exam, test
- 早【はや】く(hayaku) - Early
- 来【く】る(kuru) - To come
- 良【よ】かった(yokatta) - It would have been better
- 彼【かれ】(kare) - He, boyfriend
- 行【い】く(iku) - To go
- 一緒【いっしょ】(issho) - Together
- 遊【あそ】ぶ(asobu) - To hang out, to play
**Exercises:**
1. Change the following verbs into their TARA form:
a. 見【み】る (to see) -> TARA form:
b. 食【た】べる (to eat) -> TARA form:
c. 行【い】く (to go) -> TARA form:
2. Create NARA conditionals with the given phrases:
a. 夏休【なつやす】みがあるなら -> NARA conditional:
b. もっと勉強【べんきょう】するなら -> NARA conditional:
c. 彼【かれ】が参加【さんか】するなら -> NARA conditional:
**Exercise Solutions:**
1. a. 見【み】たら (mitara)
b. 食【た】べたら (tabetara)
c. 行【い】ったら (ittara)
2. a. 夏休【なつやす】みがあるなら、海【うみ】に行【い】きましょう。 (Natsuyasumi ga aru nara, umi ni ikimashou.)
b. もっと勉強【べんきょう】するなら、試験【しけん】は簡単【かんたん】です。 (Motto benkyou suru nara, shiken wa kantan desu.)
c. 彼【かれ】が参加【さんか】するなら、私【わたし】も参加【さんか】します。 (Kare ga sanka suru nara, watashi mo sanka shimasu.)
