Until today, I think most of you have studied and understood the grammatical explanations of the subjective form by reading
various textbooks. But I think it's true that you may be distressed, and saying, "But I cannot say anything because I don't know how
to use them." I hear this kind of thing from a lot of students. I explained the subjunctive form in the past two lessons (vols. 84 and
85), and you may be puzzled on some points because I focused on explaining usage, rather than grammar. It is really important to
understand my explanations first and use the subjunctive form like Mr. Pole, who makes mistakes but tries to use them.
I think I'm getting used to using "nara" and "to" in my daily
conversation. Even though I sometimes get confused and make
mistakes, I still try to use them. What I would like to do now is to
learn how to use "tara" and "ba." I will then become an expert on
the subjunctive form. It will help me enjoy daily conversation much
more, and I hope to make a lot of friends!
tara
たら
tara ba
ば
ba
Future trip
in the Future
(Past tense)
Present
(Jump to the future)
ば
ba
たら
たら ば
tara
たら
tara
1. Future trip: Future / Hope / Emergency / Happening /
As soon as / ___ then ___, etc.:
When talking about a future event, "tara" is most frequently
used among "tara / ba / nara / to."
・future:
・hope:
・emergency:
・advice:
・as soon as:
・--- then ---:
スケジュールが決まったら連絡します。
大人になったら何になりたい？
入金が確認出来たら品物を送ります。
火事になったら１１９番に電話して下さい。
コピーをしたら持って行きます。
お酒を飲んだら運転しないで下さい。
When my schedule is fixed, I'll let you know.
schedule ga kimattara renraku shimasu
(Frequently asked question of children)
What would you like to be when you grow up?
otona ni nattara nani ni naritai ?
Please call 119 in case of fire.
kaji ni nattara 119-ban ni denwa shite
kudasai.
If you drink, don't drive.
osake o nondara unten shinaide kudasai
As soon as I confirm your payment, I’ll send you the item.
If I make a copy, I will bring it to you.
nyu-kin ga kakunin dekitara shinamono o okurimasu
copy o shitara motte-ikimasu
4. Unrealistic dream: When something is highly unlikely to become reality,
"moshi" (if) is placed at the beginning of the sentence.
5. Surprise (when surprised) / Emergency / Discovery!
2. Advice: Asking for advice
3. Weak suggestion: If there is something you find that is difficult to say, you
may put it in question form, so that the listener can answer Yes or No. That makes
a suggestion less forthright. The tone rises at the end of a question.
これはどこに置いたらいいですか？
少し節約したら？
もう少し待ったら？
休んだら？
もし１日が30時間あったら15時間寝ます。
支払おうとしたらお金が足りなかった！
パスワードを入力したら違っていた。
Where should I put this?
Why don't you save some money?
Why don't you wait for a while?
Why don't you take a rest?
If there were 30 hours a day, I would sleep for 15 hours.
When I was about to pay, I didn't have enough money!
When I input the password, it was incorrect.
password o nyu-ryoku shitara chigatteita
shiharao- to shitara okane ga tarinakatta
moshi ichi-nichi ga 30-jikan attara 15-jikan nemasu
sukoshi setsuyaku shitara?
mo- sukoshi mattara?
yasundara?
kore wa doko ni oitara i
desu
ka?
→
→
→
If only you were experienced, I would want you to work here.
If only I repair it, I can use it. → It's not repaired at this moment, so I cannot use it.
2. Strong suggestion: It sounds pushy, so most likely people at a higher level would
use this phrase to people of a lower level. The tone drops at the end of a question.
3. Past habit
4. Proverbs:
楽あれば苦あり急がば回れ
住めば都
1. Hidden meaning: Although " ba" can be replaced by " tara," a "hidden
meaning behind the reality" is emphasized by using "ba."
帰れば
暇さえあればゲームをしていた。
修理すれば使えます。
経験があれば働いてもらいたいのですが。
→
もっとよく考えれば
→
shu-ri sureba tsukaemasu
ke-ken ga areba hataraite-moraitai no desu ga
kaereba
motto yoku kangaereba
hima sae areba game o shiteita
isogaba maware raku areba ku ari
sumeba miyako
Why not think more deeply?
(If you don't feel good) Why not go home?
When I had a free time, I used to play video games.
More haste, less speed. Life is not all beer and skittles.
To every bird his own nest is best.
→You are not experienced, so I cannot hire you.
ZZ
Z Z Z
With cooperation from Yasuhiro Koga
Copyright 2008 The Yomiuri Shimbun
5-minute Japanese Class by Hitomi Hirayama