仮If and when
If with たら
たら is the most flexible way to say “if” or “when”. If you're not sure which conditional to use, it's usually a safe choice.
Making it
Past form + ら
It doesn't mean past. The form just marks what has to happen first.
| Type | Past | With たら |
|---|---|---|
| Verb | 行った | 行ったら |
| い adjective | 高かった | 高かったら |
| な adjective | 静かだった | 静かだったら |
| Noun | 学生だった | 学生だったら |
| Negative | 行かなかった | 行かなかったら |
If, or when?
Context decides
If it rains, I won't go.
Not sure it'll happen.
When I get to the station, I'll call.
You're sure it'll happen, and then something follows.
Where it shines
Requests, plans and more
When you've finished reading it, please return it.
A request
If I win the lottery, I'll buy a house.
A decision
If you happen to be free, shall we see a movie?
もし makes it clearly “if”.
When I got home, a letter had come.
A surprise discovery in the past.
If I'd had the money, I'd have bought it.
Something that didn't happen.
How the four compare
Choosing a conditional
| と | ば | たら | なら | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natural results | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Followed by a request | No | Sometimes | Yes | Yes |
| One past discovery | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Things that didn't happen | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
When it doesn't work
Order matters
The たら part has to come first. To say something you'd do before going to Japan, you can't use 日本に行ったら, because that means after you've gone. Use 行くなら or 行く時 instead. And if something's definitely past, you can't use たら for your own intentional action following it: a sentence like 家に帰ったら勉強しました needs another pattern.
Check yourself
Is this “if” or “when”?
Your turn
たら or と?
Please email when you get home.
Say it yourself
Making plans
Your friend is arriving at the airport. Ask them to call when they land. And mention that if it's raining, you'll drive to get them.
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