Conditional comparison table (と / ば / たら / なら)
to / ba / tara / nara hikaku
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Meaning
Summary of when each conditional is used — a frequent N4 test focus.
Japanese has four ways to say "if / when", and each one has a job. と = automatic result (press the button and water comes out). ば = the condition that is needed (if you practise, you improve). たら = the all-purpose "if/when, after A is done" (call me when you arrive). なら = "if that's the case" (if you're going, buy a ticket first). This lesson puts them side by side so you can pick the right one quickly.
Whenever you connect a condition to a result. Ask three questions: Is the result automatic? (と). Is the second half a request, invitation or wish? (たら or なら, not と). Am I reacting to a topic or giving advice about a plan? (なら).
Formation
V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
と: plain non-past + と (押すと, 雨だと)ば: ば-form (押せば, 高ければ, 静かなら)たら: た-form + ら (押したら, 高かったら, 雨だったら)なら: plain form / noun + なら (押すなら, 雨なら)
Visual diagram
| Aspect | と | ば | たら | なら |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Core meaning | automatic result | the needed condition | if/when, after A is done | if that's the case |
| Request / invitation after it | no | only if condition is a state | yes | yes |
| Past discovery (when I did A, I found B) | yes | no | yes | no |
| Result can happen BEFORE the condition | no | no | no | yes |
| Habit / general truth | yes | yes | yes | no |
| Typical example | 押すと出る | 練習すれば上手になる | 着いたら電話して | 行くなら買っておけ |
Natural examples
春になると暖かくなる。
はるに なると あたたかく なる。
When spring comes it gets warm. (natural result → と)
Natural result: と.
駅に着いたら電話して。
えきに ついたら でんわして。
Call me when you get to the station. (request → たら)
Request in main clause: たら.
車を買うなら、中古がいい。
くるまを かうなら、ちゅうこが いい。
If you're going to buy a car, used is better. (advice on topic → なら)
Advice on a plan: なら.
この橋を渡ると、駅が見えます。／駅に着いたら、連絡してください。
このはしを わたると、えきが みえます。／えきに ついたら、れんらくしてください。
Cross this bridge and you'll see the station. / When you get to the station, please contact me.
と for the automatic view; たら because a request follows.
安ければ買います。／買うなら、今がチャンスですよ。
やすければ かいます。／かうなら、いまが チャンスですよ。
If it's cheap, I'll buy it. / If you're going to buy, now is your chance.
ば for the needed condition; なら to give advice about the plan of buying.
Similar grammar and the difference
Full lesson on the automatic-result conditional. Compare side by side
Full lesson on the condition-focused conditional and its conjugation. Compare side by side
Full lesson on the general conditional. Compare side by side
Full lesson on the topic/advice conditional. Compare side by side
Common mistakes
- ✗
- 時間があると、遊びに来てください。
- ✓
- 時間があったら／あれば、遊びに来てください。
- Why
- A request cannot follow と. たら is safest; ば is fine because ある is a state.
- ✗
- 家に帰れば、母が料理を作っていた。
- ✓
- 家に帰ったら／帰ると、母が料理を作っていた。
- Why
- A past discovery needs たら or と; ば cannot describe a one-time past event.
- ✗
- 日本に行ったら、日本語を勉強しておいたほうがいい。
- ✓
- 日本に行くなら、日本語を勉強しておいたほうがいい。
- Why
- The studying happens before the trip, so only なら works.
たら is the safest choice in most everyday sentences; と is the safest for describing machines, nature and directions. Only なら can take a past-tense condition to mean "if it's true that A happened": 行ったなら、感想を聞かせて. In casual speech ば is often replaced by たら, but ば survives in set phrases (〜ばいい, 〜ばよかった, 〜ば〜ほど).
JLPT N4 tips
On the exam
- Work by elimination: (1) request/invitation after the blank → remove と; (2) result happens before the condition → must be なら; (3) past discovery → たら or と.
- Two options are often both grammatical (たら and ば). Then look for the exam's usual cue: a request or a past discovery favours たら; a general rule favours ば.
Frequently asked questions
What does Conditional comparison table (と / ば / たら / なら) mean?
Summary of when each conditional is used — a frequent N4 test focus. Japanese has four ways to say "if / when", and each one has a job. と = automatic result (press the button and water comes out). ば = the condition that is needed (if you practise, you improve). たら = the all-purpose "if/when, after A is done" (call me when you arrive). なら = "if that's the case" (if you're going, buy a ticket first). This lesson puts them side by side so you can pick the right one quickly.
How do you form Conditional comparison table (と / ば / たら / なら)?
と: plain non-past + と (押すと, 雨だと) / ば: ば-form (押せば, 高ければ, 静かなら) / たら: た-form + ら (押したら, 高かったら, 雨だったら) / なら: plain form / noun + なら (押すなら, 雨なら). V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
When is Conditional comparison table (と / ば / たら / なら) used?
Whenever you connect a condition to a result. Ask three questions: Is the result automatic? (と). Is the second half a request, invitation or wish? (たら or なら, not と). Am I reacting to a topic or giving advice about a plan? (なら).
What is the difference between Conditional comparison table (と / ば / たら / なら) and 〜と?
Full lesson on the automatic-result conditional.
What is the difference between Conditional comparison table (と / ば / たら / なら) and 〜ば?
Full lesson on the condition-focused conditional and its conjugation.
What is a common mistake with Conditional comparison table (と / ば / たら / なら)?
Wrong: 時間があると、遊びに来てください。 Right: 時間があったら／あれば、遊びに来てください。 A request cannot follow と. たら is safest; ば is fine because ある is a state.
Quick check
お湯を（ ）、コーヒーを入れてください。