I know it is confusing. Just as I wrote in the previous lesson, the "tara/nara/ba/to" subjunctive form
is complicated and hard to understand for beginners. That is why I chose frequently used expressions of
such forms in the previous lesson. Also, I tried to explain them in such a way to impress the main points on
your memory. For this lesson, let me choose "to/nara" and explain the details in a simple way. For the
next lesson, I will explain the "tara/ba" subjunctive form.
I learned the "tara/nara/ba/to" subjunctive forms in the Vol. 84 column, and I tried to use
them in conversation, but wasn’t very confident. I get confused over which one to use. The
other day, when talking to a friend, I stammered, "Akihabara ni ittara... iku to... (If I go
to.... When I go to Akihabara......" and stopped in confusion. She then asked me, " What are
you trying to say?" I just threw up my hands in frustration. What should I have said?
と Condition
X Y
same result
(1) Automatically:
Automatically
。
（   ）always/certainly
to
と 
to
なら
nara
と  same resultAutomatically
to
Robot
a) Instruction b) Giving directions c) Natural phenomena/science
d) Same results (1. General 2. Personal habit )
No emotion!
電源を入れると 動く。(1-a)
植物は水がないと
枯れる。(1-c)
３に２を足すと ５になる。
(1-d-1)
ストレスがたまると 食べる。
(1-d-2)
手を切ると 痛い！(2)
トンネルを抜けると そこは海だった。(３)
dengen o ireru to ugoku
When "to" is replaced with "tara," the empathy is emphasized,
and it sounds more conversational.
san ni ni o tasu to
go ni naru
stress ga tamaru to
taberu
te o kiru to itai
shokubutsu wa mizu
ga nai to kareru
tunnel o nukeru to soko wa umi datta
3 ni 2 o tasu to 5 ni narimasu
(It sounds mathematical.)
e.g.,
3 ni 2 o tashitara 5 ni narimasu
(It sounds as if the speaker is trying to help the listener understand.)
(When you turn it on, it moves.)
(When a plant doesn’t
receive water, it withers.)
(When I came out of the tunnel, I saw the sea in front of me.)
(When 2 is added to 3, it makes 5.)
(When I become stressed, I eat.)
(When you cut your hand, it hurts.)
Coffee break
(3) Narration: Describing the facts of a situation chronologically.
(2) Reality 
なら
Q : When can I see you?
来週ならいつでも。 (1-a)
Q : Where can I go to get cheap electric
appliances?
電化製品なら秋葉原かな。(1-b)
Q : Have you tried sushi?
いいえ、でも刺身なら食べました。(1-c)
はい、小学生なら。(1-d)
raishu- nara itsudemo
hai, sho-gakuse- nara
nara
なら
nara
2. Seesaw : Choosing by comparing A to B. It may be best to use "nara"
in order to describe what is happening right now in front of one's
eyes, or the current situation. The decision varies according
to the situation or personal opinion.
denkase-hin nara Akihabara kana
The speaker's subjectiveness (judgment,
intention, hope, request, order, advice, opinion, etc.)
A : If you want cheap appliances,
you should visit Akihabara.
A : No, but I have eaten sashimi.
A : Any time next week is OK.
1. Pick one : Judging or describing by category. In general, "nara" is used
when responding to what the recipient said. a) Selection
b) Introduction or suggestion (Caution: the selected item comes
after "nara.") c) Answer with one example d) Of course
Q : Children are half price?
A : Yes, for primary school students.
Pick onesame result
Pick one
3. Playing catch: Playing catch in conversation (Picking up
what a speaker says, and describing one's
knowledge or opinion.)
cake
あれ？ケーキがない！ あ、ケーキなら食べちゃった。
are? cake ga nai ! a cake nara tabechatta
Ueda-
san
上田さ〜ん！ 上田さんなら帰りましたよ。
Ueda-san！ Ueda-san nara kaerimashita yo
ケーキ
cake
上田さん
Ms. Ueda
hon
ここにあった本は？ あの本なら捨てました!
koko ni atta hon wa? ano hon nara sutemashita
本
book
Where is the book that I left here? I threw it away.
Ms. Ueda！
Huh? I can't find my cake! Oops, I ate the cake.
e.g., wakaranai nara ki
-
te-kudasai.
(It sounds businesslike.)
wakaranai n /no nara ki
-
te-kudasai.
(It sounds empathetic.)
wakaranai ndattara ki
-
te-kudasai.
(It sounds like the speaker's feeling is emphasized more.)
Coffee break
と 
to Something that cannot be controlled.
右に曲がると 銀行がある。(1-b)
migi ni magaru to ginko- ga aru
(When you turn right, there is a bank.)
If you want to add your empathy to phrases 1 (Pick one)
and 2 (Seesaw), use "i-adj. / verb + n /no nara." If you want
to put more feeling into it, use "i-adj. / verb + ndattara" or
"na-adj. / noun + dattara."
Ms. Ueda has gone home.
暖房を消す
寒い
samui atsui
danbo- o kesu
暑いなら暖房を消しましょう。
atsui nara danbo- o keshimashoA:
B:
暑い
Turn off the heater
cold hot
When it becomes hot, let's turn off the heater.
わからない
聞いて下さい。
わからないなら聞いて下さい。
わかる
ki
-
te-kudasai
wakaru wakaranai
wakaranai nara ki
-
te-kudasai
A: understand B: Don't understand
Please ask me.
If you don't understand, please ask me.
Now
Now
Now
The result (Y) of general condition (X) always or certainly occurs.
Speculation is not called for.
-
i
e,
demo sashimi nara tabemashita
With cooperation from Yasuhiro Koga
Copyright 2008 The Yomiuri Shimbun
5-minute Japanese Class by Hitomi Hirayama