This grammar means 'if' or 'when'. You use it for things that are generally true. You also use it for advice or ideas.
Verb [ば-form]Primary
い-Adjective [stem] + ければ
な-Adjective + であれば
Noun + であれば
This grammar means 'if' or 'when'. You use it for things that are generally true. You also use it for advice or ideas.
お金があれば、世界旅行がしたい。
If I had money, I'd want to travel the world.
このボタンを押せば、電気がつきます。
If you press this button, the light will turn on.
値段が高くなければ、そのパソコンを買ったのに。
If the price hadn't been high, I would have bought that computer.
時間どおりに来れば、会議に間に合いますよ。
If you come on time, you'll make it to the meeting.
彼が正直であればみんな彼を信用しただろうが、実際はそうではなかった。
If he had been honest everyone would have trusted him, but in reality that wasn't the case.
This form often gives advice. It can also show regret. You use it for things that did not happen. It is like saying, "If only..."
This is different from 'たら' and 'と'. 'と' is for things that always happen. 'たら' is for one-time conditions. 'えば' is for general rules. It is also for things you think might be true. It is used in talking and writing.
Don't use this when you want to do something yourself. For example, you cannot say "If I go to Tokyo, I will shop." You can use it if someone else does something. For example, "If you speak honestly, I will forgive you." This is okay. You can use this form for general rules. You can also use it for things that might happen. You can use it to give advice too. The second part of the sentence is a natural result. It happens because of the first part.
Often confused with(2)
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