〜なら: You use this word to talk about a topic. You can give advice about it. You can also ask a question about it.

Dictionary

〜なら

You use this word to talk about a topic. You can give advice about it. You can also ask a question about it.

N4 KMT3NeutralStandardParticleMixedCore ConditionalsGrammar

Noun + ならPrimary

Verb [dictionary form] + なら

い-Adjective + なら

な-Adjective + なら

Clause + の + なら

You use this word to talk about a topic. You can give advice about it. You can also ask a question about it.

日本に行くなら、京都は絶対に行ったほうがいいですよ。

If you're going to Japan, you should definitely visit Kyoto.

CasualNon PastAffirmativeClause InitialHypotheticalTravel & Transportation

食べないなら、私がもらってもいい？

If you're not going to eat it, may I have it?

CasualNon PastNegativeClause InitialPermissionFood & Dining Daily Life

あのカフェに行ったのなら、田中さんに会ったでしょう。彼はいつもいますから。

If you (really) went to that cafe, you probably saw Tanaka-san. He's always there.

NeutralPastAffirmativeClause InitialConjecturalDaily Life Family & Relationships

このプロジェクトのことなら、担当者にお話しください。

If it's about this project, please speak with the person in charge.

PoliteNon PastAffirmativeClause InitialRequestWork & Career Business & Finance

部長が来るならという話だったので、準備を始めました。

Since the story was that the department head would be coming, we started preparations.

PolitePastAffirmativePrenominalDeclarativeWork & Career

Other 'if' words mean the first action must happen first. But 'なら' is different. You can do the second action before the first. For example, 'If you go to Japan, buy a camera.' You buy the camera first.

Don't use this when something will always happen. For example, 'If you push the button, the light turns on' is better with '〜と'. You use '〜なら' for advice or commands. The second part of the sentence often shows what someone wants. It can be 'I want to...', 'You should...', 'Please do...', or 'Let's do...'.

Use this when you want to talk about something someone else just said. It shows you heard them. You can then add your own idea about that topic.

Often confused with(1)

〜ば

This grammar means 'if'. You use it when something will always happen. Or you can use it to give advice.

Contrasts with(3)

〜と

This grammar shows what always happens. It is like saying 'when' or 'if' something always leads to another thing.

〜ば

This grammar means 'if'. You use it when something will always happen. Or you can use it to give advice.

〜たら

This means 'if' or 'when'. You use it to say something will happen after another thing.

辞書形

This is the basic form of a verb. It is what you find in a dictionary. You use it to make other verb forms.

〜だ / 〜だった

This means 'is' or 'was'. It is the casual way to say 〜です and 〜でした.

〜い / 〜かった

This is the basic form of an い-adjective. It describes a quality of something. You use it for present or past qualities.

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Dictionary

〜なら

You use this word to talk about a topic. You can give advice about it. You can also ask a question about it.

N4 KMT3NeutralStandardParticleMixedCore ConditionalsGrammar

Noun + ならPrimary

Verb [dictionary form] + なら

い-Adjective + なら

な-Adjective + なら

Clause + の + なら

You use this word to talk about a topic. You can give advice about it. You can also ask a question about it.

日本に行くなら、京都は絶対に行ったほうがいいですよ。

If you're going to Japan, you should definitely visit Kyoto.

CasualNon PastAffirmativeClause InitialHypotheticalTravel & Transportation

食べないなら、私がもらってもいい？

If you're not going to eat it, may I have it?

CasualNon PastNegativeClause InitialPermissionFood & Dining Daily Life

あのカフェに行ったのなら、田中さんに会ったでしょう。彼はいつもいますから。

If you (really) went to that cafe, you probably saw Tanaka-san. He's always there.

NeutralPastAffirmativeClause InitialConjecturalDaily Life Family & Relationships

このプロジェクトのことなら、担当者にお話しください。

If it's about this project, please speak with the person in charge.

PoliteNon PastAffirmativeClause InitialRequestWork & Career Business & Finance

部長が来るならという話だったので、準備を始めました。

Since the story was that the department head would be coming, we started preparations.

PolitePastAffirmativePrenominalDeclarativeWork & Career

Use this when you want to talk about something someone else just said. It shows you heard them. You can then add your own idea about that topic.

Often confused with(1)

〜ば

This grammar means 'if'. You use it when something will always happen. Or you can use it to give advice.

Contrasts with(3)

〜と

This grammar shows what always happens. It is like saying 'when' or 'if' something always leads to another thing.

〜ば

This grammar means 'if'. You use it when something will always happen. Or you can use it to give advice.

〜たら

This means 'if' or 'when'. You use it to say something will happen after another thing.

辞書形

This is the basic form of a verb. It is what you find in a dictionary. You use it to make other verb forms.

〜だ / 〜だった

This means 'is' or 'was'. It is the casual way to say 〜です and 〜でした.

〜い / 〜かった

This is the basic form of an い-adjective. It describes a quality of something. You use it for present or past qualities.

Track your mastery

Kumi's KMT system tracks your mastery across kanji, vocabulary, grammar, and reading. Create a free account to use it on 220,000+ concepts.

〜なら

Patterns5

Meaning

Examples5

Contrasts1

Restrictions1

Discourse Function1

Compare with4

Often confused with(1)

Contrasts with(3)

Prerequisites3

Track your mastery

〜なら

Patterns5

Meaning

Examples5

Contrasts1

Restrictions1

Discourse Function1

Compare with4

Often confused with(1)

Contrasts with(3)

Prerequisites3

Track your mastery