JLPT N4 Grammar – Difference between “〜たら” and “〜と”
Table of Contents
1. Difference between “〜たら” and “〜と”
2. AたらB
3. AとB
4. Let’s Compare
5. Summary
6. Quiz
7. Similer Articles
8. Comment
Q: Is there a difference between “〜たら” and “〜と”?
A: Both are expressions that indicate conditions, but they differ clearly in terms of usage, sentence-ending restrictions, and nuance.
ＡたらＢ (JLPT N4)
[Meaning]
When a certain condition is fulfilled, action or event B takes place
[Rule]
[V] Verb た form + ら
[A] い adjective た form + ら
[Na] な adjective た form + ら
[N] Noun た form + ら
[Examples]
次の電車が来たら、乗りましょう。
If the next train comes, let’s get on it.
ちょっと高いですね。もう少し安かったら買います。
It’s a bit expensive. If it were a little cheaper, I would buy it.
静かじゃなかったら、違う場所で勉強しよう。
If it’s not quiet, let’s study somewhere else.
雨だったら延期にします。
If it rains, we’ll postpone it.
In A, a “condition” is stated, and when that condition is fulfilled, B happens — in other words, it expresses that “something occurs or is carried out.”
[Examples]
晴れだったら、出かけよう。雨だったら、家で映画を見よう。
If it’s sunny, let’s go out. If it’s rainy, let’s watch a movie at home.
⇒ A (condition): sunny / rainy → B (action or event): go out / watch a movie.
朝、運動をしたらスッキリしますよ。
If you exercise in the morning, you’ll feel refreshed.
来週、忙しくなかったら飲み会でも開きましょうか。
If you’re not busy next week, shall we have a drinking party or something?
AとB (JLPT N4)
[Meaning]
A condition is stated in A, and when it occurs, B naturally follows
[Rule]
[V] Verb dictionary form + と / Verb ない form + と
[A] い adjective + と / い adjective ない form + と
[Na] な adjective + だと / な adjective ない form + と
[N] Noun + だと / Noun ない form + と
[Examples]
このボタンを押すと、カーテンが開きます。
If you press this button, the curtain will open.
うるさいと何も聞こえません。
If it’s noisy, you can’t hear anything.
英語が苦手だと、この仕事は大変かもしれませんね。
If you’re not good at English, this job might be difficult for you.
“〜と” indicates that when condition A is fulfilled, B inevitably occurs.
Compared to “〜たら,” it has the following features:
Actions A and B happen almost at the same time
B is a natural result of A
Because of these characteristics, it is often used in the following situations:
- Mechanical operations
- Natural phenomena
- General facts, tendencies, or characteristics
[Examples]
チケットを入れるとゲートが開きます。(mechanical operation)
If you insert a ticket, the gate opens.
春になると花が咲きます。(natural phenomenon)
When spring comes, flowers bloom.
資格があると、就職のときに有利です。(general truth)
If you have a qualification, it’s an advantage when job hunting.
疲れていると集中できません。(tendency or characteristic)
If you’re tired, you can’t concentrate.
Let’s Compare
Which expression is more appropriate in the following sentences?
[Example]
① 6時になったら出かけましょう。
② 6時になると出かけましょう。
The correct answer is ①.
How about this one?
[Example]
① 東京に行ったら、渋谷に行ってみたいです。
② 東京に行くと、渋谷に行ってみたいです。
The correct answer is ①.
“〜たら” is a subjective expression, and B can include the speaker’s intention, wishes, or requests directed at the listener. It can also freely refer to future events.
On the other hand, “〜と” is an objective expression. In B, you cannot include the speaker’s intention, wishes, suggestions, or plans for the future.
Therefore, “〜と” is often used to describe things that happen automatically, naturally, or as an inevitable result.
Summary
[AたらB]
- When the condition in A is fulfilled, B takes place.
- There are no restrictions on how B can end; it can express the speaker’s intention, wishes, suggestions to the listener, or future events.
[AとB]
- When condition A occurs, B happens inevitably or automatically.
- This pattern is mainly used for mechanical operations, natural phenomena, general truths, and tendencies or characteristics.
- In this case, there are restrictions on how B can end — it cannot express the speaker’s intention, wishes, suggestions, or future plans.
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.
A. 戻ったら
会社に戻ったらＡ社に電話してください。
When you get back to the office, please call Company A.
*Since the sentence ends with a request to the listener, “たら” is the correct choice.
A. なったら
1時になったら休みたいです。
I want to take a break when it becomes 1 o’clock.
*Since the sentence expresses the speaker’s desire (“〜たい”), “なったら” is the correct choice.
A. だと
体が丈夫だと風邪をひきにくいです。
If you’re physically strong, you don’t catch colds easily.
*The appropriate form after “丈夫” is “だと.”
A. と
コインを入れると機械が動きます。
If you insert a coin, the machine starts working.
*The correct form following “入れる” is “と.”
Similer Articles
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