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Grammar JLPT Level N4 - Lesson 21

Structure of たら:

Verb[た]+
[い]Adjective[た]+
[な]Adjective + だった +
Noun + だった +

Details about たら:

The conjunction particle たら is used as a kind of 'halfway point' between 'if' and 'when' in Japanese. It expresses the completion of an (A) action, and then a (B) action that is considered to be the result of (A). It may be hypothetical, or it may be presenting a one-time result of something that happened in the past.
To use たら, it will replace た in the simple past form of verbs, い-Adjectives, な-Adjectives, and nouns.
  • 今度(こんど)(おく)たら(ゆる)ない
    When/if you are next late, I will not let it slide.
  • (さむ)かったら、エアコンつけ
    When/if you are cold, turn on the air conditioner.
  • (かれ)(こと)()だったら(かれ)()(ほう)がいい
    When/if you like him, you should tell him.
  • 明日(あした)だったら(あそ)
    When/if it is tomorrow, I can hang out.
たら

Usage Notes for たら:

Despite appearing to be the past form of the word that it is attached to, たら itself does not actually carry the nuance of 'past'. Other words in the sentence will need to be examined to see whether たら is truly highlighting something from the past, or simply the completion of something (which may or may not happen in the future).
  • 来週(らいしゅう)だったらいける
    If it is next week, I can go. (Highlighting a future event)
  • 先週(せんしゅう)だったら()のに
    If it was last week, I could have gone. (Highlighting a past event)

Synonyms for たら:

あとで
After, Later
If… then, (Conditional)
てから
Once...is done, Once...happens, After doing
If, When, Whenever, And, [Conditional]
なら
Were it, If, If it's the case, As for (Conditional)
もし
If (For emphasis)
上で
After, Upon
たらどう
Why don't you...?, What if you did...?

Example of たら

勉強(べんきょう)たらテスト簡単(かんたん)になる

When/if you study, the test will become easy.

(ちゃ)(あじ)(うす)かったら()ってください

Please let me know if/when the tea is weak.

もし()べに()たかったら()こう

If/when you want to go out to eat, let's go!

週末(しゅうまつ)だったら時間(じかん)あります

When it is the weekend, then I have time.

(から)かったら牛乳(ぎゅうにゅう)()んでください

If it is spicy, please drink some milk.

Grammar same lesson

お~ください

Please do (Honorific)
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御座(ござ)います

To be, To exist (Polite)
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致(いた)す

To do (Humble)
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で御座(ござ)います

To be, Polite copula
See detailsreport

他(ほか)に

Other, Another, Any other, Anything else, As well as, Besides, In addition
See detailsreport
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