Japanese has several ways to express "if/when" conditions. Each has distinct nuances and grammatical restrictions on what can appear in the result clause.
〜ば
Formation
u-verbs: change final u → e + ば (書く→書けば) | ru-verbs: drop る + れば (食べれば) | い-adj: drop い + ければ | な-adj/N: + であれば
Expresses a hypothetical condition. Often used for general truths, advice, and counterfactuals. The result clause cannot be past tense commands.
Jikan ga areba, eiga wo mimasu.
If I have time, I'll watch a movie.
Yasukereba, kaimasu.
If it's cheap, I'll buy it.
〜たら
Formation
Attach ら to the た-form: 書いたら / 食べたら / したら / 来たら
Expresses a condition that is completed before the result occurs. Very versatile — works for hypotheticals, discovery, and sequential events. Result clause can be past, commands, or requests.
Expresses automatic, natural, or inevitable results. Often used for instructions, directions, and habitual truths. The result clause cannot be volitional (commands, requests, wishes).
Kono michi wo massugu iku to, eki ga arimasu.
If you go straight down this road, there's a station.
Haru ni naru to, sakura ga saku.
When spring comes, the cherry blossoms bloom.
Quick Quiz
Question 1 of 10
Which conditional is used for automatic/inevitable results (e.g. giving directions)?