BackGrammar JLPT Level N4 - Lesson 8
Structure of なら:
Verb＋（の）＋なら（ば）
［い］Adjective＋（の）＋なら（ば）
［な］Adjective＋なら（ば）
Noun＋なら（ば）
Details about なら:
As mentioned in our lesson about ば, なら is often used by itself to mean 'if'. This is considered to be an abbreviation of ならば, the hypothesis form of なり, a classical auxiliary verb that is not used much in modern Japanese.
Because なり originally meant 'to be', it functions in a similar way to the auxiliary verb だ. This means that it regularly pairs with nouns, or phrases that have been nominalized (become noun-like), through the use of の.
Because なり originally meant 'to be', it functions in a similar way to the auxiliary verb だ. This means that it regularly pairs with nouns, or phrases that have been nominalized (become noun-like), through the use of の.
- 田舎に住むのならば、車を買ったほうがいい。If you are going to live in the countryside, it would be better to buy a car.
- 寒いのならば、ジャケットを着るといいだろう。If it is cold, you should wear a jacket.
- 無理ならいいよ。If it is not possible, it's okay.
- デザートなら何でも食べられます。If it is a dessert, I can eat anything. (If it is dessert, I like anything)
- 私の車を使うなら、いつ使うか教えてください。If you are going to use my car, please let me know when.
- 暑いなら、その上着を脱いでください。If you are hot, please take off that jacket.
なら
Usage Notes for なら:
Because なら is an abbreviation of ならば, it is strictly used when making guesses about what 'may', or what 'could' happen in certain situations. This means that it will not be used as 'if' in statements about results that are produced through some sort of effort/training.
- 練習をするなら、漢字を書くのが上手になる。If you are going to practice, you will get good at writing kanji. (Unnatural Japanese, as becoming 'good' is a natural result of practicing)
Synonyms for なら:
ば
If… then, (Conditional)
こそ
For sure, For certain, Even more so, Underlined or bolded text
ばあいは
In the event of, In the case of
としたら・とすれば・とすると
If it were the case that, Assuming that...
たら
When, From when, Just when, If
もし
If (For emphasis)
もしも～なら・もしも～でも
If, Supposing
と
If, When, Whenever, And, [Conditional]
Example of なら
旅行に行くなら、おみやげを買ってきてください。
If you are going on a trip, please buy me some gifts.
宿題が難しいなら、一緒にしよう。
If the homework is hard, let's do it together.
君なら、できる。
As for you, you can do it.
日本語のことなら、先生に聞いた方がいい。
As for Japanese, it would be better if you asked the teacher.
また行くなら、帰って来ないでください。
If you are going to go again, please don't come back.
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