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JLPT N4 grammar comparison

〜たら (conditional) "if / when / after" vs 〜なら (conditional) "if it's the case that / as for"

By Nihongo PathUpdated

The difference

From the 〜たら (conditional) "if / when / after" lesson

〜なら (conditional) "if it's the case that / as for": なら picks up a topic and gives a reaction, and the main action may come before the condition (行くなら切符を買っておく). たら requires the condition to be completed first.

From the 〜なら (conditional) "if it's the case that / as for" lesson

〜たら (conditional) "if / when / after": たら: condition happens first, then result. なら: result may come first; it is about reacting to a topic.

Side by side

〜たら (conditional) "if / when / after"

tara (jouken) · JLPT N4

Meaning
The most general conditional: "if/when A happens (and is completed), B". Also "when I did A, (I found) B".
Formation
Verb: た-form + ら: 食べたら, 行ったら, したら, 来たら (きたら); negative なかったらい-adjective: drop い + かったら: 高かったら, いい→よかったらな-adjective / Noun: + だったら: 静かだったら, 雨だったらもし〜たら emphasises "if"; the main clause can be any type (request, invitation, plan, discovery)

  1. 駅に着いたら、電話してください。

    えきに ついたら、でんわしてください。

    When you arrive at the station, please call me.

  2. 雨が降ったら、試合は中止です。

    あめが ふったら、しあいは ちゅうしです。

    If it rains, the match will be cancelled.

Full lesson on 〜たら (conditional) "if / when / after"

〜なら (conditional) "if it's the case that / as for"

nara (jouken) · JLPT N4

Meaning
Takes up what the listener said or a topic and gives advice or a reaction: "if (you say) X, then…"
Formation
Noun + なら: 北海道なら, 田中さんならな-adjective + なら: 静かなら, 好きならVerb plain form + (の)なら: 行くなら, 行かないなら, 行ったならい-adjective + (の)なら: 高いならMain clause: advice, opinion, request, decision; may precede the condition in time

  1. 日本語を勉強するなら、この本がいいですよ。

    にほんごを べんきょうするなら、この ほんが いいですよ。

    If you're going to study Japanese, this book is good.

  2. 北海道なら、冬が一番きれいです。

    ほっかいどうなら、ふゆが いちばん きれいです。

    If it's Hokkaido, winter is the most beautiful.

Full lesson on 〜なら (conditional) "if it's the case that / as for"

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between 〜たら (conditional) "if / when / after" and 〜なら (conditional) "if it's the case that / as for"?

なら picks up a topic and gives a reaction, and the main action may come before the condition (行くなら切符を買っておく). たら requires the condition to be completed first.

When do you use 〜なら (conditional) "if it's the case that / as for" instead of 〜たら (conditional) "if / when / after"?

たら: condition happens first, then result. なら: result may come first; it is about reacting to a topic.