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Grammar detail: verb たら conditional form

verb たら conditional form
if
178 words
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clause A
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verb たら form
+
clause B
implies that B is true provided A is true / happens. Depending on context, this could be translated as 'if A then B', or 'when A then B'.
The たら form of a verb or adjective is formed by adding ら to the plain past.
い
行
く (go) ➜
い
行
った (went) ➜
い
行
ったら (if I went)
In these examples, the likely meaning is 'when':
しごと
仕事
を
お
終
えたら
でんわ
電話
します
。
When I get through with my work, I'll call you.
お
かえ
帰
り
になったら
でんわ
電話
を
くだ
下
さい
。
Give me a telephone call when you get back.
In this example, the likely meaning is 'if':
じかん
時間
があったら
き
来
て
ください。
Please come over if you have time.
In this example, without further context, the meaning could be 'if I go to the supermarket' or 'when I go to the supermarket':
スーパーに
い
行
ったら
パンを
か
買
ってくる
。
When I go to the supermarket, I'll buy some bread.
In some situations, natural equivalent English would not use a conditional. For example:
の
飲
んだら
の
乗
る
な。
Don't drink and drive (literally: if you drink, don't get on [a vehicle etc.]).
どこへ
い
行
ったら
よいのかわからない。
I don't know where to go.
なに
何
を
た
食
べたら
いいですか。
What should I eat?
わたし
私
は
なに
何
と
い
言
ったら
いいかわからなかった。
I was at a loss for words.
This example uses the たら form of the adjective よい (good): よかったら (if it's good). よかったら is a common set phrase, often used with the meaning 'if you like'.
てんき
天気
がよかったら
さんぽ
散歩
しましょう
か。
Let's go for a walk if the weather's nice.
Note that たらば may also be encountered. This has no difference in meaning, but conveys a somewhat more formal tone.
ある
あさ
朝
めざ
目覚
めたらば
、
わたし
私
は
ゆうめい
有名
になっていた。
I awoke one morning and found myself famous.
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Kanji used in this grammar

行
コウ   ギョウ   アン   ゆく    いく to go   おこなう to take place   
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仕
シ   ジ   つかえる to attend to   
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事
ジ   ズ   こと thing; matter   
終
シュウ   end   おわる to come to an end   おえる to bring to an end   
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電
デン    electricity   
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話
ワ   はなす to talk   はなし talking   
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帰
キ   かえる to return   かえす to send back, give back   
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下
カ   ゲ   した below, under   しも bottom part   もと under (influence)   さげる to lower, to reduce   さがる to be lowered   くだる to descend   くだす to judge   くださる to give   おろす to drop off (passenger)   おりる to get off (train)   
時
ジ   とき time, occasion   
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間
カン   ケン   あいだ interval, between   ま space, room   
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来
ライ   くる to come   きたる to be forthcoming   きたす to induce   
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買
バイ   かう to buy   
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飲
イン   のむ to drink   
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乗
ジョウ   load; power   のる to board   のせる to load on   
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何
カ   なに    なん what?   
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食
ショク   ジキ    food   たべる to eat   くう to eat   
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私
シ   わたくし    わたし I, myself   
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言
ゲン   ゴン   say; word   こと word, saying   いう to say   
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天
テン   あめ    あま- heaven   
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気
キ   ケ    spirit   
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散
サン   ちらす to scatter, to distribute   ちらかす to scatter around   ちらかる to be in disorder   ちる to fall (leaves etc)   
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歩
ホ   フ   ブ   あるく    あゆむ to walk   
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朝
チョウ   あさ morning   
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目
ボク   モク   eye   ま-    め    
覚
カク   おぼえる to remember   さめる to awake   さます to rouse, awaken   
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有
ユウ   ウ   ある to possess; to exist   
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名
メイ   ミョウ   な name   
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