Japanese grammar · ≈ JLPT N4 · Beginner 3
〜たら~tara
if; imagined condition
Form 「〜たら」 from the plain past form to imagine a condition and state what you plan to do if it happens.
How it works
Tomorrow’s weather is still uncertain. Imagine two kinds of weather, then see what they plan to do in each case.
「～たら」 means “if …”. First state an imagined condition, then say what you will do under that condition.
Follow the arrows: if the weather is good, they go on the trip; if it rains, they postpone it. Different conditions lead to different plans.
Form it by adding 「ら」 to the plain past form: 「良かった＋ら→良かったら」.
Here, the past form is simply part of how the pattern is built. 「明日」 tells us this is about tomorrow, not the past.
For nouns, the past form uses 「だった」. To imagine a rainy situation, say 「雨だったら」.
In the example, 「安い」 first becomes 「安かった」. Adding 「ら」 then makes it the condition for buying.
「安かったら、買います」 imagines that the price is low and expresses a plan to buy. It does not mean the purchase has already happened.
Example sentences
- 安かったら、yasukattara買います。kaimasu
(Conditional) If it's cheap, I will buy it.
In a conversation
- A明日の旅行、どうしますか。
A: What about tomorrow's trip?
- B天気が良かったら、行きます。
B: If the weather is good, I will go.
- A
Check yourself
Level 1 · Recognise
Which sentence is correct?
Level 1 · Recognise
Listen and choose the meaning
Level 2 · Build
Put the words in order
If the review is good, I will make a reservation.
Level 3 · Use
What goes in the blank?
天気が 行きます。
If the weather is good, I'll go.
More grammar in this theme
- 〜たらif; imagined condition