JLPT N4 Grammar – Difference between “〜ば”, “〜たら” and “〜なら”

Table of Contents

1. Difference between “〜ば”, “〜たら” and “〜なら”
2. 〜ば
3. 〜たら
4. 〜なら
5. Let’s Compare
6. Summary
7. Quiz
8. Similar Articles
9. Comment

Q: Are there differences between “〜ば,” “〜たら,” and “〜なら”?

A: “〜ば,” “〜たら,” and “〜なら” all express hypothetical situations, making them challenging for Japanese learners.
Some can be used interchangeably, while others cannot.
Let’s look at the specific rules.

〜ば (JLPT N4)

[Usage]
① Hypothesis
② Repetitive Expression
③ General Rule

[Point]
When used to express a hypothetical situation, “〜ば” can be replaced with “〜たら.”
However, it cannot be used at the end of a sentence to express intention, invitation, or command.
“AばB” indicates a sequence where the passage of time is “A→B”.

[Rules]
[V] Verb conditional form
[A] い adjective ＋ければ

[Examples]
[V] 天気てんきが良よければ散歩さんぽに行いきたいです。（Hypothesis）
If the weather is nice, I want to go for a walk.

[V] 春はるになれば桜さくらが咲さきます。（Repetitive Expression・General Rule）
When spring comes, the cherry blossoms bloom.

[A] あと1万まん円えん安やすければ買かいます。（Hypothesis）
If it were 10,000 yen cheaper, I would buy it.

〜たら (JLPT N4)

[Usage]
Hypothesis + Intention, Invitation, Command

[Point]
When used to express a hypothetical situation, it can be replaced with “〜ば.”
Unlike “〜ば” and “〜なら,” it can be used with intention, invitation, or command, and there are no restrictions at the end of the sentence.
“AたらB” indicates a sequence where the passage of time is “A→B”.

[Rules]
[V] Verb past tense＋ら
[A] い adjective past tense＋ら
[Na] な adjective past tense＋ら
[N] Noun past tense＋ら

[Examples]
[V] 100万まん円えんあったら旅行りょこうしたいです。(Intention)
If I had a million yen, I would like to travel.

[V] 天気てんきが良よかったら散歩さんぽしたいです。(Intention)
If the weather is nice, I would like to go for a walk.

[A] あと1万まん円えん安やすかったら買かいます。(Intention)
If it were 10,000 yen cheaper, I would buy it.

[Na] 暇ひまだったらもっと働はたらけ。（Command）
If you have free time, work more.

[N] 明日あす晴はれだったら出でかけませんか。（Invitation）
If it’s sunny tomorrow, shall we go out?

〜なら (JLPT N4)

[Usage]
① To give advice or make a request based on what someone has mentioned
② To bring up someone’s statement as a topic
③ To express limitation or contrast

[Point]
It is used to express a hypothetical situation, but unlike “〜ば” and “〜たら,” it is used for hypotheticals concerning the other person.
The sentence ends with words expressing intention, suggestion, advice, or desire.
“AならB” can be used to indicate a sequence where the passage of time is “A→B” or “A←B”.

[Rules]
[V] Verb plain form＋なら
[A] い adjective＋なら
[Na] な adjective＋なら
[N] Noun＋なら

[Examples]　
[V] 出でかけるなら、かさを持もって行いったほうがいいですよ。
If you’re going out, you should take an umbrella.

[A] 明日あしたは35度どだって。そんなに暑あついなら自転じてん車くるまじゃなくて電車でんしゃで行いこうかな。
They say it will be 35 degrees tomorrow. If it’s going to be that hot, maybe I should take the train instead of biking.

[Na] もし暇ひまなら、一緒いっしょに食事しょくじをしませんか。
If you’re free, would you like to have a meal together?

[N] A: 銀行ぎんこうはどこですか？
　 B: 銀行ぎんこうなら、駅前えきまえにありますよ。
A: Where is the bank?
B: The bank is in front of the station.

“〜なら” expresses a hypothetical situation as well, but unlike “〜ば” and “〜たら,” it is used for hypotheticals concerning the other person.

It is used when assuming assuming that the other person is in a certain situation, and the speaker gives advice, intention, or opinion in response.
It is also used when bringing up something the other person mentioned and giving advice or making a request about it.

[Examples]
駅えきからうちへ来くるのが大変たいへんなら迎むかえに行いくよ。（Hypothesis）
If coming from the station to my place is difficult, I’ll come to pick you up.
⇒ The speaker is assuming that the other person is having a hard time and is making a suggestion based on that.

A：コンビニに行いってくるね。
B：コンビニに行いくなら、ジュースを買かってきてくれる？ (Topic・Request)
A: I’m going to the convenience store.
B: If you’re going to the convenience store, could you buy some juice while you’re at it?
⇒ The speaker is making a request based on the other person’s statement.

京都きょうとなら嵐山あらしやまがきれいですよ。(Topic・Advice)
Talking about Kyoto, Arashiyama is beautiful.
⇒ The speaker is bringing up something the other person mentioned and giving advice about it.

Additionally, when using “〜なら” to imply a limitation, it suggests that something is true only for “A” and not for anything else, and it is used when you want to state “B” in relation to “A.”

[Example]
[N] 明日あしたは午前ごぜん中ちゅうなら時間じかんがあります。(Limitation)
I have time tomorrow morning.
⇒ This indicates that you don’t have time outside of the morning.

[N] 日本にほん語ごなら話はなせます。(Limitation)
I can speak Japanese.
⇒ This indicates that you cannot speak any language other than Japanese.

Let’s Compare

[Hypothesis]

Let’s start by comparing the hypotheticals where “〜ば” and “〜たら” can be used interchangeably.

[Examples]
この店みせに来これば安やすくておいしいものが食たべられます。
この店みせに来きたら安やすくておいしいものが食たべられます。
If you come to this restaurant, you can eat cheap and delicious food.
⇒ Either one is fine.

Next are the sentences ending with intention, invitation, or command.

[Examples]　
◯ 時間じかんがあったら部屋へやをそうじしよう。（Intention）
× 時間じかんがあれば部屋へやをそうじしよう。（Intention）
If you have time, let’s clean the room.

◯ 時間じかんがあったらお茶ちゃでもしませんか。（Invitation）
× 時間じかんがあればお茶ちゃでもしませんか。（Invitation）
If you have time, shall we have some tea?

◯ 時間じかんがあったら勉強べんきょうしなさい。（Command）
× 時間じかんがあれば勉強べんきょうしなさい。（Command）
If you have time, study.

“〜ば” cannot be used at the end of a sentence to express intention, invitation, or command.
However, this restriction does not apply when using words that express a state such as “いる” or “ある,” the negative form of verbs and adjectives, or adjectives like “安やすければ” (if it’s cheap).

[Examples]
◯ 社長しゃちょうがいなかったら、部長ぶちょうに許可きょかをもらってください。（Command）
◯ 社長しゃちょうがいなければ、部長ぶちょうに許可きょかをもらってください。（Command）
If the president is not here, please get permission from the manager.

◯ 安やすかったら買かいます。（Intention）
◯ 安やすければ買かいます。（Intention）
If it’s cheap, I’ll buy it.

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[Repetitive Expression・General Rule]

When talking about repetitive expressions or general rules, “〜ば” is used.

[Examples]　
〇 春はるになれば桜さくらが咲さきます。
When spring comes, the cherry blossoms bloom.

△ 春はるになったら桜さくらが咲さきます。　　
⇒ The relationship between spring and cherry blossoms is not hypothetical.

× 春はるなら桜さくらが咲さきます。　　　　　　　　
⇒ “〜なら” cannot express repetitive expressions or general rules.

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[Passage of time]

In the cases of “AばB” and “AたらB,” the sequence must be “A→B.” However, with “AならB,” it can be used whether the sequence is “A→B” or “A←B.”

[Examples]　
× 留学りゅうがくすれば、まずはパスポートを取とらないといけません。
× 留学りゅうがくしたら、まずはパスポートを取とらないといけません。
◯ 留学りゅうがくするなら、まずはパスポートを取とらないといけません。
If you are going to study abroad, you first need to get a passport.
⇒ The sequence is obtaining a passport → studying abroad.

Summary

• When expressing a hypothetical situation, “〜ば” and “〜たら” can be used interchangeably.
• “〜ば” cannot be used at the end of a sentence to express the speaker’s intention, invitation, or command.
• Use “〜なら” when making a hypothetical statement about the other person.
• Use “〜なら” when bringing up a topic and ending the sentence with the speaker’s advice or request.
• In the case of “AならB,” it can be used whether the sequence of events is “A→B” or “A←B.”

Quiz

Read the following sentence and choose the expression that fits the context from the options provided in the parentheses.

Click on the question to check the answer.

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