. . . . . . t a r a 』 『 . . . . . . o 『. . . . .

..to』
『 . . ...na
『........ba 』 ra 』
5-minute Japanese Class by Hitomi Hirayama

I went to play golf with my colleagues, and we had a meal together afterward. One of them said, "motto I see. We could use "tara-reba" when the result is not as good as we
renshu- -shiteitara..." and "asokoni ki ga nakereba...," and another person said, "mo- sukoshi migi ni expect. They said, “If I had more practiced...,” “If there was no tree over there...,” If
Design : Masako Ban

tobeba..." and a third person said, "honto kaze ga nakereba motto tondeita noni...." Ms. Hirayama, the ball flew a little bit to the right.” How true! If there was no wind, the ball would
is there a special golf style for conversations? Everyone used "tara-reba" in their sentence, and I could not have gone much further. When you studied grammar, you learned subjunctive
join in the conversation. I'm going to play golf again, so please tell me how to speak before I go. forms, right? These forms are very similar to each other, so it is confusing.

There are four Japanese forms, "tara / ba / nara / to," to indicate the subjunctive. The usages of these forms are very similar to each other, and each usage overlaps some of the o ther usages grammatically
and vary depending on one's occupation, locality, surroundings, gender and so on. Thus, it can be very complicated. If I try to explain everything at once, it will confuse you. So, I will only show you the typical
classifications, and you will learn how to use them in more detail in Vol. 85.
と
to (2) Seesaw : Choosing by comparison (4) Unlikely dream : When something is highly unlikely
e.g., Cheap to become reality, "moshi (if)" is placed at the
Expensive yasui Pick one
(1) Automatically : The result (Y) of general condition (X) "always" or takai to beginning of the sentence.
"certainly" occurs. Speculation is not called for. ba e.g., (moshi) takarakuji ni atattara ageru ne
yasui nara kaimasu (If I win the lottery, I will give it to you!)
Condition と　 (always/certainly) Automatically same result I will buy (If it is cheap, I will buy it.) nara
to 。 tara (5) Surprise (when surprised) / Emergency / Discovery!
X Y
e.g., jishin ga okitara hi o keshimasu
★ Instruction: e.g., button o osu to monitor ga tsuku (When you press （3） Playing catch : Playing catch in conversation (When an earthquake strikes, I extinguish
the button, the monitor is turned on.) (Picking up what a speaker says, and any open flames.)
★ Giving directions: e.g., migi ni magaru to hashi ga aru (When you describing one's knowledge or opinion.)
turn right, you will see a bridge.) e.g., Mr. A : Yada-san doko? (Where is Mr. Yada?)
★ Natural phenomena/science: e.g., natsu ni naru to atsukunaru
Mr. B : Yada-san nara yasumi desu
(When the summer comes, it gets hotter.)
(If it is about Mr. Yada, he is on holiday.) ば
★ Same results
1. General: e.g., sato- o ireru to amakunaru (When you put sugar
ba
in it, it becomes sweeter.)
2. Personal: e.g., onaka ga suku to iraira suru (When I get
hungry, I get irritated easily.)
(1) Hidden meaning : Although "ba " can be replaced by " tara ," a
hidden meaning behind the reality is emphasized by using " ba ."
(2) Reality
tabesugiru to futoru (When you eat too much, you become fat.) Supposition that is
e.g., ば
(3) Narration : Describing the facts of a situation chronologically. (When たら different from reality
ba 。
empathy is needed, "tara" is used.)
tara
e.g., okane ga areba kaemasu
e.g., haha wa shigoto ga owaru to dekaketa
(Jump to the future) (If only I had money, I would buy it.) (In reality,
(When the mother finished her job, she went out.)
he/she has no money.)
(1) Future trip : Future / Hope / Emergency / Happening Reality / hidden
/ Advice / As soon as / ___ then ___, etc. meaning → okane ga attara kaemasu
Talking about a future event while in the present. When talking about the (If I have money, I will buy it.) (There is no
なら future, "tara" is most frequently used among " tara / ba / nara / to." hidden meaning, it is just supposition.)
nara (2) Strong suggestion : Listener has no option.
Pick one e.g., kaettara mail no e.g., kore ni sureba (Why don’t you take this one?) (In reality, he or
(1) Pick one : Judging or describing check o shimasu she must take it.)
by category Future trip
(When I get home, I will (3) Past habit
★ Selection: e.g., getsuyo-bi nara ikemasu (If it is Monday, I can go.)
- check my e-mails.) e.g., gakuse--jidai wa tomodachi to aeba uta no hanashi o shita
★ Introduction or suggestion: e.g., kome nara Nihon no ga oishi desu Present in the Future (When I was a student, I talked about songs with my friend
(If you want to eat rice, Japan’s is excellent.) - -
★ Answer with one example: e.g., sashimi nara tabeta koto ga (2) Advice : e.g., do shitara i desu ka? (What should I do?) whenever I saw him.)

arimasu ("sashimi," I’ve tried eating it.) (3) Weak suggestion : Listener has an option. (4) Proverbs :
★ Of course: e.g., Nihon-jin nara kanji ga yomemasu e.g., sukoshi yasundara? e.g., san nin yoreba monju no chie (Two heads are better than one.)
(If they are Japanese, they can read kanji.) (Why don't you take a rest?)
With cooperation from Yasuhiro Koga
Copyright 2008 The Yomiuri Shimbun