〜たら・〜ば
たら: once it happens, then. ば: as long as this condition is met.
駅に着いたら、連絡して。
Let me know when you get to the station.
走れば間に合うかも。
We might make it if we run.
Review: reasons, conditions and opinions on the move
No new material. Here are 40 sentences from Lessons 1–7, mixed up so you have to pick the right "because", "if", "maybe" or "but" yourself. This one is made for walking: pick "Everything" in the bar below and go. Tap to hear any line. The bar at the bottom plays a hands-free drill for walking.
JLPT: 17 N5 words4 N4 words1 N1 word in this lesson.
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30 sentences from Lessons 1–7
Each card shows the word, the form used and the lesson it came from. Read it, tap to check the English, then play it and copy the speaker.
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Every form on one page
The forms from this course in one table, with たら from Everyday Japanese 1 for comparison. If one looks unfamiliar, go back to that lesson.
| Form | Means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Because (Lesson 1) | ||
| から | so, because | 寒いから、ドア閉めて。 |
| ので | so (softer) | 熱があるので、休みます。 |
| If and when (Lessons 2–4) | ||
| ば | if (a condition) | 急げば間に合う。 |
| と | whenever, and then | 押すと開く。 |
| なら | if that's the case | 行くなら、買ってきて。 |
| たら | when, once (E1) | 着いたら電話して。 |
| Opinions and guesses (Lessons 5–6) | ||
| と思う | I think | 雨だと思う。 |
| かもしれない | might | 遅れるかもしれない。 |
| でしょう | probably | 晴れるでしょう。 |
| はず | should be | 届くはず。 |
| But (Lesson 7) | ||
| けど | but | 高いけど、おいしい。 |
| のに | even though (!) | 言ったのに。 |
- Which "if"? Not sure? たら works in most places. Use と for things that always happen, and なら to answer what someone just said.
- だ or no だ. 雨だと思う needs だ, but 雨かもしれない doesn't.
- なので, なのに. Nouns and な-adjectives take な before ので and のに: 雨なので, 日曜日なのに.
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Four easy mix-ups
〜と・〜なら
と: it always follows. なら: answering what someone just said.
冬になると、日が短くなる。
In winter the days get shorter.
買い物に行くなら、一緒に行く。
If you're going shopping, I'll come too.
〜かもしれない・〜はず
かもしれない: it might. はず: it should, you have a reason to expect it.
今日は来ないかもしれない。
She might not come today.
約束したから、来るはず。
She promised, so she should come.
〜けど・〜のに
けど: a plain "but". のに: "even though", with surprise or complaint.
寒いけど、気持ちいい。
It's cold, but it feels nice.
こんなに寒いのに、半袖？
You're in short sleeves, in this cold?
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Say it in Japanese
Say each one out loud before you reveal the answer. Getting close counts.
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1. It's late, so let's go home.もう遅いから、帰ろう。
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2. Use this if you like.よければ、これ使って。
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3. If we don't leave now, we'll miss the train.今出ないと、電車に間に合わない。
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4. If you're going out, take your phone.出かけるなら、スマホ持って行って。
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5. Don't you think it's a bit cold?ちょっと寒いと思わない？
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6. It might snow tonight.今夜、雪が降るかもしれない。
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7. She should be at school now.今は学校にいるはず。
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8. I had lunch, but I'm already hungry.お昼食べたのに、もうお腹すいた。
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9. I should have gone to bed earlier.もっと早く寝ればよかった。
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10. Saturday I'm free.土曜日なら空いてるよ。