Presentation on the Japanese conditional forms, focussing on the formation of the 'ba' form.

1. Conditional Forms
〜と 〜たら 〜えば

2. 〜と
Natural consequence. If [X] happens, [Y] happens as a natural consequence.
1. Condition (Plain Present form)と Result (Plain/Polite)
電気を消すと、暗くなる
If you turn off the lights, it will get dark

3. ~たら form
• More general conditional form. The consequence might be more subjective, not
necessarily a natural consequence.
Condition (Plain Past)たら、Result (Plain/Polite)
• ひまだったら、あそびに行くよ
If I’m free I will go and play.
It can also mean “when” (especially when the consequence is in the past tense.)
• アメリカに行ったら、ニューヨークで見物したいです。
When I go to America I want to do sightseeing in New York.

4. 〜ば form
• Is another conditional which is a more regular “if ” without any assumptions
or embedded meanings. It is generally interchangeable with ~たら.
• 高くなければ、私も行く
• If it’s not expensive, I will go.
• 犬を買えば、家が汚くなるでしょう
• If we buy a dog the house will probably get messy.
きたな

5. 〜ば form
ば is generally interchangeable with ~たら , however there is a slight nuance
difference, in that ~たら focuses on the outcome/consequence/result. The ば
form focuses on the condition.
友達に会えれば、買い物に行く。
We will go shopping, if I can meet my friend.
友達に会ったら、買い物に行く。
If I can meet my friend, we will go shopping.

6. ~ば form formation
Weak verbs Change る to れば
食べる ＞ たべれば
Strong verbs Change the last u character to the corresponding e
character:
買う ＞ 買えば
行く ＞ いけば
話す ＞ はなせば
持つ ＞ 持てば
読む ＞ 読めば
Verbs in negative form (weak and strong) Change the final ~ない to なければ
食べない ＞ 食べなければ
読まない ＞ 読まなければ
*As per the HSC syllabus, this is a receptive use only. Production is optional

7. ~ば form formation
い adjectives Change い to ければ
高い ＞ 高ければ
な adjectives and nouns Add であれば
元気であれば
学生であれば
Negative form Change the final ~ない to なければ
高くない ＞ 高くなければ
元気じゃない ＞ 元気じゃなければ
学生じゃない ＞ 学生じゃなければ
*As per the HSC syllabus, this is a receptive use only. Production is optional