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N4

Choosing the Right Conditional

About 10 minutes · written and reviewed by Haruki Yamamoto

Section 1 of 3

The four-way contrast

Each conditional has a core job. たら is flexible and often marks sequence or discovery. なら picks up context. と marks automatic or habitual results. ば is general and hypothetical.

  1. Target signal

    駅に着いたら、連絡してください。

    When you arrive at the station, please contact me.

    たら works well with requests after the condition is met.

    Vocabulary notes
    てください〜てください
    please do ...
    ください
    please give; please do
    たら〜たら
    if; when

  2. Compare in context

    日本へ行くなら、京都もおすすめです。

    If you're going to Japan, I also recommend Kyoto.

    なら responds to a known topic.

    Vocabulary notes
    おすすめ
    recommendation
    です
    to be (polite); is; am; are
    なら
    if it is; as for

Section 2 of 3

Where each one sounds natural

Use と for machine-like or natural results. Use ば for hypothetical judgments and advice. Use たら for a completed condition. Use なら when reacting to information already on the table.

  1. Target signal

    このボタンを押すと、電気がつきます。

    If you press this button, the light turns on.

    Automatic results and systems favor と.

    Vocabulary notes
    ボタン
    button
    この
    this
    つき
    moon

  2. Preview

    時間があれば、少し話したいです。

    If I have time, I'd like to talk a little.

    General hypothetical judgments often favor ば.

    Vocabulary notes
    たい〜たい
    want to do
    あれ
    that over there
    した
    did

Section 3 of 3

Reading strategy

When you meet a conditional in reading, ask what kind of relationship the writer means: sequence, context, automatic result, or logical condition. That usually reveals why that form was chosen.

  1. Target signal

    家に帰ったら、手紙が来ていた。

    When I got home, a letter had arrived.

    This is a discovery sequence, so たら fits well.

    Vocabulary notes
    たら〜たら
    if; when
    いた
    was there
    手紙てがみ
    letter

  2. Preview

    寒いと、手が痛くなる。

    When it is cold, my hands start to hurt.

    This is a repeated natural result, so と fits well.

    Vocabulary notes
    なる
    to become
    寒いさむい
    cold (weather)
    が
    subject marker

Reading in context

Read for meaning before checking the answer

Before you read

Read once for the situation. Then notice how Choosing the Right Conditional changes the meaning before you check the translation.

駅に着いたら、連絡してください。 日本へ行くなら、京都もおすすめです。 このボタンを押すと、電気がつきます。 時間があれば、少し話したいです。 家に帰ったら、手紙が来ていた。 寒いと、手が痛くなる。

Show English translation

When you arrive at the station, please contact me. If you're going to Japan, I also recommend Kyoto. If you press this button, the light turns on. If I have time, I'd like to talk a little. When I got home, a letter had arrived. When it is cold, my hands start to hurt.

Contextual questions

Answer from the passage before you reveal each explanation.

  1. What is the first reading job for this passage?

    • Identify the situation and how Choosing the Right Conditional changes it.
    • Translate every word before using context.
    • Ignore the ending because only vocabulary matters.
    • Choose an answer before reading the full passage.
    Check the answer

    Identify the situation and how Choosing the Right Conditional changes it.

    The goal is to use the situation first, then confirm the role of Choosing the Right Conditional in context.

Guided practice

Apply the lesson in a few different ways

Work through each prompt, then check the explanation before moving on.

Activity 1 of 4Choose the best context

Which conditional best fits an automatic machine result?

Activity 2 of 4Fill the blank

Complete the chunk that carries the lesson meaning (Choosing the Right Conditional).

駅に着いたら、連絡し＿＿＿。

Activity 3 of 4Put it in order

Put these related examples back into the order used in the lesson.

  1. 1日本へ行くなら、京都もおすすめです。
  2. 2このボタンを押すと、電気がつきます。
  3. 3駅に着いたら、連絡してください。
Activity 4 of 4Infer from the passage

What should guide your interpretation of Choosing the Right Conditional in the mini-reading?

Mastery check 1/3

Which conditional best fits an automatic machine result?