Conditionals Compared: と・たら・ば・なら [JLPT N4]
Content by NTJ Kuma · Nihongo to Japan editorial team · Updated July 27, 2026
How to choose among the four conditional forms
Conditionals overview: と・たら・ば・なら — how to choose the four “ifs”?
Japanese has four “ifs” — と・たら・ば・なら — all translatable as “if,” but with different feels and uses; the wrong one is unnatural. This is the overview of conditionals: one table for all four's division of labor, plus a clear split of the most-confused 「たら vs なら」. (Each has its own guide: 〈と〉〈たら〉〈たら vs と〉; here is the full comparison.)
📌 Full Comparison
| Form | Connection | Nuance | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 〜と | verb dict. ＋ と | natural/inevitable (when…, …) | nature, machines, routes |
| 〜たら | verb た-form ＋ ら | most versatile (after A, B) | almost any supposition |
| 〜ば | verb ば-form | hypothetical (leans written) | proverbs, general conditions |
| 〜なら | plain form ＋ なら | advice on the other's premise | picking up a topic, advising |
💬 と: natural/inevitable result (no volition in the latter clause)
- 春になると、桜が咲きます。(When spring comes, the cherry blossoms bloom.) — nature
- このボタンを押すと、ドアが開きます。(Press this button and the door opens.) — mechanical
- 右に曲がると、駅があります。(Turn right and there's the station.) — directions
- ⚠️ ✗ 駅に着くと、電話してください。(latter clause is a request — と can't be used) → ✓ 駅に着いたら、電話してください。
💬 たら (versatile) / ば (hypothetical, written) / なら (advice on a premise)
- たら: ご飯を食べたら、出かけよう。(After eating, let's go out.) — after A, B; freest
- たら: もし宝くじが当たったら、家を買う。(If I win the lottery, I'll buy a house.) — supposition
- ば: 安ければ、買います。(If it's cheap, I'll buy it.) — hypothetical condition
- ば: 塵も積もれば山となる。(Many a little makes a mickle.) — proverb
- なら: 日本へ行くなら、新幹線が便利だよ。(If you're going to Japan, the bullet train is convenient.) — advice on the other's premise
🔄 Trickiest: the time order of たら vs なら
| Contrast | Difference | Example |
|---|---|---|
| たら | B only after A is done (A→B order) | 日本へ行ったら、お土産を買う (buy after arriving) |
| なら | give advice B on the premise “A” (B can be before A) | 日本へ行くなら、円を両替しておけ (exchange before going) |
| と | natural inevitability (A → B, no volition) | 押すと開く |
| ば | general hypothetical condition (written) | 安ければ買う |
⚠️ Common mistakes to avoid
① 「と」 can't be followed by volition, commands, or requests. ✗ 春になると、旅行しよう. Use たら (春になったら旅行しよう). と only takes an inevitable, automatic result.
② 「なら」 = giving advice on a topic the other person raised. 「日本に行くなら、新幹線がいいよ (if you're going to Japan, the shinkansen is good)」 — the former is the other's raised, hypothetical topic, the latter your advice. Different from たら (completion/hypothesis).
③ When unsure, use 「たら」. たら is most versatile (hypothesis, completion, discovery; volition/commands can follow). When hesitating, たら is almost always right.
💡 Learning tip
The four conditionals are a core difficulty in Japanese, but grasp the division and they sort out: ① と = as soon as ~ (inevitable, automatic, no volition after) (押すと開く); ② たら = most versatile (hypothesis, completion, discovery; anything can follow; use it when unsure); ③ ば = general hypothesis, proverbs (〜ば〜ほど, written feel); ④ なら = advice/limitation on the other's topic (行くなら…). The easiest confusion is たら vs なら: たら leans “after the former happens, then the latter” (time order); なら leans “responding to the ‘if it's…' topic” (no time order). When truly unsure, たら is safest. For each one's details, see the 〈と〉〈たら〉〈たら vs と〉 guides.
❓ FAQ
Q: Fastest way to choose among と・たら・ば・なら?
Remember each one's “signature scene”: ① と — natural, inevitable, mechanical (春になると桜が咲く, 押すと開く; never volition/commands after). ② たら — most versatile, use it when unsure (hypothesis 「雨が降ったら中止」, completion 「食べたら寝る」, discovery 「帰ったら留守だった」; commands can follow 「着いたら電話して」). ③ ば — general hypothesis, rules, proverbs (安ければ買う, 〜ば〜ほど). ④ なら — advice on the other's raised topic (日本に行くなら、京都がいい). Rule of thumb: inevitable → と, versatile → たら, rule → ば, advice → なら.
Q: たら and なら confuse me most — how do I tell them apart?
By time order. 「たら」 = the latter happens “after” the former (time sequence: 日本に着いたら、電話する = call after arriving in Japan — arrive first, then call). 「なら」 = responding to the ‘if it's…' hypothetical topic (no time order; the latter may even come first: 日本に行くなら、ガイドブックを買っておけば = if you're going to Japan, buy a guidebook ahead — buying is before going). Classic contrast: 「日本に行ったら、お土産を買う (once in Japan, buy souvenirs — buy in Japan)」 vs 「日本に行くなら、この本を読むといい (if going to Japan, read this book — read before going)」. たら stresses “after doing something,” なら “responding to this topic.”
🖊️ Practice Questions (5)
Q1. 「春に___、桜が咲きます。」(natural phenomenon: when spring comes, they bloom)
(A) なると (B) なれば (C) なったら (D) なるなら
Q2. 「駅に着い___、電話してください。」(please call after arriving at the station — the main clause is a request)
(A) たら (B) ると (C) れば (D) なら
Q3. 「日本へ行く___、新幹線が便利ですよ。」(giving advice based on the other person's premise of going)
(A) なら (B) と (C) たら (D) ば
Q4. 「と」が後件に取れないのはどれか？
(A) 命令・請求・意志（〜してください等） (B) 自然現象 (C) 機械的結果 (D) 必然的結果
Q5. 四つの条件形の説明として正しいものは？
(A) と = natural inevitability (main clause can't have volition); たら = the most versatile; ば = supposition (rather written); なら = advice based on the other person's premise
(B) The four are exactly the same
(C) と = gives advice (D) なら = a natural phenomenon
Answer Explanations
1. (A) なると ── For natural phenomena and inevitable results, use 「と」.
2. (A) たら ── The main clause is a request (〜てください), so use 「たら」(と can't take volition/request).
3. (A) なら ── Giving advice based on the premise the other person raised (going to Japan), so use 「なら」.
4. (A) ── The main clause of 「と」can't take a command / request / volition.
5. (A) ── と (natural inevitability) / たら (versatile) / ば (written supposition) / なら (premise-based advice) each have their own role.