JLPT N4 Grammar
· Elementary
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if (contextual conditional)
Category: Conditionals
The grammar pattern ～なら (nara) is used to set a topic or provide advice based on the context provided by another person. It is often used in casual conversations to express a conclusion or a suggestion. The pattern follows nouns and na-adjectives directly, and verbs in dictionary form. It is a contextual conditional, meaning that it relies on the context provided by the previous speaker to determine the appropriateness of the statement.
| Form | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | Noun + nara | 辞書なら (Dictionary then) |
| Na-adjective | Na-adjective + nara | 新しいなら (New then) |
| Verb (dictionary form) | Verb (dictionary form) + nara | 行くなら (Go then) |
辞書なら、私もいいのを知っていますよ。
Jisho nara, watashi mo ii no o shitte imasu yo.
If it's a dictionary, I also know some good ones.
辞書なら (Dictionary then) 私も (I also) いいの (good ones) を (to know) 知って (know) いますよ (I do)
明日なら、暇ですから手伝えますよ。
Ashita nara, yasui desu kara, te o dasemashou yo.
If it's tomorrow, I'll help you because I have nothing to do.
明日なら (Tomorrow then) 暇ですから (because I have nothing to do) 手伝えます (I'll help) よ (right)
京都へなら、新幹線が便利ですよ。
Kyouto e nara, shinkansen ga benri desu yo.
If you're going to Kyoto, the bullet train is convenient.
京都へなら (Going to Kyoto then) 新幹線が (the bullet train) 便利です (is convenient) よ (right)
The pattern ～なら (nara) is used in casual conversations to express a conclusion or a suggestion. It is often used in response to a question or a statement. The pattern can be used in both positive and negative forms. For example, "辞書なら、いいのを知っていますよ" (If it's a dictionary, I know some good ones) or "辞書なら、いいのを知らないよ" (If it's a dictionary, I don't know any good ones).
The pattern ～なら (nara) does not require the addition of 'da' before 'nara'. For example, "辞書なら (Dictionary then)" is correct, but "辞書だなら (Dictionary da then)" is incorrect.
The pattern ～なら (nara) is used to set a topic or provide advice, while the pattern ～たら (tara) is used to express a consequence or a result. For example, "辞書なら (Dictionary then)" is correct, but "辞書たら (Dictionary then)" is incorrect.
The pattern ～なら (nara) relies on the context provided by the previous speaker to determine the appropriateness of the statement. If there is no established context, the pattern cannot be used. For example, "辞書なら (Dictionary then)" is correct only if the previous speaker mentioned a dictionary.
When using the pattern ～なら (nara) in the JLPT exam, make sure to use it in response to a question or a statement, and only when there is an established context. Also, be careful not to add 'da' before 'nara' or confuse it with the pattern ～たら (tara).
A:「昨日、新しい辞書を買いました。」 B:「辞書 ______ 、私もいいのを知っていますよ。」
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