JLPT | JLPT N4 | Grammar | Corresponds to Genki II (3rd Edition) Lesson 22 [Buy the textbook here]
～ば/～れば if A then B
■ if A then B; conditional expression
■ Most often used with positive results and therefore often used when giving advice. "If you do this, it will result in something good."
All verbs are actually easy to change into this form. Whether it is Group 1, Group 2, or the irregular verbs, all you have to do is... think in ro-maji.
I know. Ro-maji is evil, but in this case, it makes it easier. Because, all you have to do is change the final "u" sound into "eba."
Verbs
■ -u Verbs: Change the "u" to "e" + ば
Example: 話す hanasu → hanase + ば → 話せば (if someone talks)
■ -ru Verbs: stem + Change the "u" to "e" + ば
Example: 食べる taberu → 食べれ tabere → 食べれば tabereba (if someone eats)
■ irregular verbs: stem + Change the "u" to "e" + ば
する (to do) → すれば (if someone does)
くる (to come) → くれば (if someone comes)
Adjectives
■ -i Adjectives: stem (minus the final い) + ければ
Example: 小さい → 小さ + ければ→ 小さければ
■ -na Adjectives & Nouns: -na Adjective (without the -na) or Noun + なら（ば） or であれば
-na Adjective Example: 静かならば (if quiet) or 静かであれば (if quiet)
Noun Example: 車ならば (if car) or 車であれば (if car)
例文 EXAMPLE WORDS
■ -u Verbs: stem + Change the "u" to "eba"
話す → 話せば (if someone speaks)
行く → 行けば (if (someone) goes)
読む → 読めば (if someone reads)
食べる → 食べれば (if someone eats)
飲める → 飲めれば (if someone drinks)
寝る → 寝れば (if someone sleeps)
■ irregular verbs: stem + Change the "u" to "eba"
する → すれば (if someone does)
くる → くれば (if someone comes)
■ -i Adjectives:
小さい → 小さければ (if small)
大きい → 大きければ (if large)
忙しい → 忙しければ (if busy)
■ -na Adjectives & Nouns
静かな → 静かならば (if quiet) or 静かであれば (if quiet)
車 → 車ならば (if car) or 車であれば (if car)
例文 EXAMPLE SENTENCES
In the "Aば B" sentence:
- The first part (A) defines the condition (IF you do this...)
- And the B part gives the results or consequences (then this will happen)
This format is often used when giving advice. IF you do this, something good will RESULT.
読めば分かる。
read | if | understand
If you read (it), (you'll) understand.
Vocabulary & Notes
車で行けば、はやい。
car | by | to go | if | fast
If you go by car, it's fast.
Vocabulary & Notes
明日天気がよければ、海に行きましょう。
tomorrow | weather | if good | ocean | to | let's go
If the weather is good tomorrow, let's go to the beach!
Vocabulary & Notes
薬を飲めば、治る。
medicine | (direct object marker) | drink | if | heal
If you take the medicine, you'll get better.
Vocabulary & Notes
NEGATIVE
The negative "if" is even easier. For verbs, you just make the negative plain form, drop the final い and add ければ
Negative Verb Stem minus the い: な 食べなければ | + ければ (if not eat) |
-i Adjective 熱くなければ | + ければ (if not hot) |
-na Adjective / Nouns + で 日本人でなければ | + なければ (if not a Japanese person) |
先生に聞かなければ、分かりません。
teacher | to | ask | if
not | won't understand
If you don't ask the teacher, you won't understand.
Vocabulary & Notes
勉強しなければ、試験に落ちる。
study | if don't | test | to | fail (fall)
If you don't study, you'll fail the test.
Vocabulary & Notes
いい天気でなければ、ピクニックに行けません。
good | weather | if not | picnic | can't go
If the weather isn't good, we can't go on a picnic.
Vocabulary & Notes
COMMENTS
■ This grammar point may be difficult to remember at first, but if you memorize a few examples from each group and try to use them in conversation, it will eventually become second nature to you.
■ For -na adjectives and nouns, the final ば is often omitted: 静かなら (if quiet) or 電車なら (if a train)
