Conditionals Compared: と・たら・ば・なら [JLPT N4]

By Nihongo to Japan · Updated July 3, 2026

How to choose among the four conditional forms

Conditionals Compared: How to Choose と・たら・ば・なら

Japanese has four “if”s — と・たら・ば・なら — close in meaning but each with its own role, a notorious hurdle for beginners. In short: と = natural inevitability (when… , …); たら = the most versatile (after doing A); ば = a hypothetical condition (leans written); なら = advice based on the other person's premise. Grasp these four and conditionals click.

🧠 Core idea: not “all the same,” but each with a specialty

All four translate as “if,” but their nuance and restrictions differ: と states an inevitable, mechanical result (press the button and the door opens), and its latter clause can't contain volition/commands; たら is the freest, “after A, B,” almost universal; ば is a hypothetical condition, leaning written and proverbial; なら is special — it takes the other's words/premise and gives advice (if you're going…). Picking wrong sometimes still works, but the right one sounds natural.

📌 Full Comparison

💬 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

⚠️ Common Mistakes

1. と ＋ volition/command/request: ✗ 春になると旅行しましょう／駅に着くと電話して → use たら when the latter clause has volition/a request.
2. なら for natural inevitability: nature (when…, …) uses と; なら is “advice on the other's premise.”
3. Connection: と ＋ dict. form; たら = た-form ＋ ら; ば = ば-form; なら = plain form ＋ なら.
4. Overusing ば: ば leans written/proverbial; everyday suppositions are more natural with たら.

💡 Nuance & When to Use

The four conditionals are a core difficulty, but grasp their roles and it's manageable: use と for natural inevitability (when…, …), たら for “after A, B” (most versatile), ば for a hypothetical condition (written), and なら for advice on the other's words. Everyday suppositions most often use たら; advice uses なら; natural phenomena use と. Read lots of examples and absorb the feel. A core N4 must.

🎯 JLPT Exam Tips

• Core N4: choosing among と (natural inevitability) / たら (versatile) / ば (hypothetical, written) / なら (advice on premise).
• Rule: と's latter clause can't have volition/command/request (use たら).
• Must distinguish: the time order of たら (B after completion) vs なら (advice B on a premise).

🖊️ 練習題（5 題）

Q1. 「春に___、桜が咲きます。」（自然現象:一到春天就開花）

(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。」（到了車站後請打電話，後件是請求）

(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。」（針對對方「要去」的前提給建議）

(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＝自然必然(後件不可有意志)；たら＝最萬用；ば＝假設(偏書面)；なら＝依對方前提給建議

(B) 四者完全相同

(C) と＝給建議　(D) なら＝自然現象

答案解析

1. (A) なると ── 自然現象、必然結果用「と」。

2. (A) たら ── 後件是請求(〜てください),用「たら」(と不可接意志/請求)。

3. (A) なら ── 針對對方提出的前提(要去日本)給建議,用「なら」。

4. (A) ── 「と」後件不能接命令・請求・意志。

5. (A) ── と(自然必然)/たら(萬用)/ば(假設書面)/なら(依前提建議),各有分工。