JLPT N4 Grammar
· Elementary
Search pages and navigate
· Elementary
if (conditional)
Category: Conditionals
The grammar pattern ～ば (ba) is used to express a conditional relationship where the second clause is a result of the first. It is often translated to 'if' in English. This pattern is commonly used to describe the result or consequence of a certain action or situation. For example, if it rains, the streets will be wet. In this case, the pattern ～ば (ba) is used to connect the two clauses and express the conditional relationship.
| Form | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb | Verb stem + ba | taberu (to eat) -> tabe ba |
| I-Adjective | Adjective stem + kereba | ii (good) -> ikere ba |
毎日勉強するば、試験に合格することができる。
Mainichi benkyou suru ba, shiken ni gokaku suru koto ga dekiru.
If I study every day, I can pass the exam.
毎日勉強する (study every day) + ば (if) + 試験に合格することができる (can pass the exam)
辞書を読むば、言葉の意味がわかる。
Jisho o yomu ba, kotoba no imi ga wakaru.
If I read the dictionary, I can understand the meaning of words.
辞書を読む (read the dictionary) + ば (if) + 言葉の意味がわかる (can understand the meaning of words)
パソコンが安くなるば、買いたい。
Pasokon ga yasuku naru ba, kaitai.
If the computer becomes cheaper, I want to buy it.
パソコンが安くなる (becomes cheaper) + ば (if) + 買いたい (want to buy)
The grammar pattern ～ば (ba) is used to express a conditional relationship where the second clause is a result of the first. It is often used in everyday conversations to describe the result or consequence of a certain action or situation. This pattern is commonly used in casual conversations and is not typically used in formal writing.
～ば (ba) is used to express a general or hypothetical situation, while ～たら (tara) is used to describe a one-time past event.
The dictionary form is not used before 'ba', but rather the verb stem or adjective stem.
～たら (tara) is used to express a request or invitation, while ～ば (ba) is used to describe a general or hypothetical situation.
When using ～ば (ba) in the JLPT exam, make sure to use the correct verb stem or adjective stem before 'ba', and not the dictionary form. Also, be careful not to confuse it with ～たら (tara) for one-time past events.
毎日 ______ 、体が丈夫になりますよ。
Our adaptive engine will quiz you on this grammar pattern and track your progress toward mastery.