The rentaikei + なら (nara) is one of several conditional
forms. It should be translated as "if" or "when".
There's no fundamental difference between "nara" and "naraba".
At the most "naraba" sounds a little more formal than
"nara".
なら (nara) can also be used after nouns. Another possible combination
is "rentaikei + のなら (no nara)".
The rentaikei + なら is never found at the end of a sentence. It
always ends the conditional clause, followed by the main clause.
なら (nara), unlike some other conditional forms, cannot be used
as a temporal form. なら (nara) and ならば (naraba) are strictly used
as conditional forms.
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そうするならできない。 (Sou suru nara
dekinai.)
If you do it like that it won't work.
明日ならば行けます。 (Ashita naraba
ikemasu.)
If it's tomorrow, I can go.
貴方がしないのなら誰がするでしょうか。 (Anata ga shinai no
nara dare ga suru deshou ka.)
If you don't do it, who will?
飲むなら乗るな。乗るなら飲むな。 (Nomu
nara noru na. Noru nara
nomu na.)
If you drink, don't drive. If you drive, don't drink. |
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NOTE: "nara" cannot be
preceded by any form of "de aru" (da / desu). This verb
will then be dropped.
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車だなら運転できない。 (Kuruma da nara unten dekinai.)
(incorrect)
命令ですならしません。 (Meirei
desu nara shimasen.) (incorrect)
明日であるなら行ける。
(Ashita de aru nara ikeru.) (incorrect) |
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Related pages:
Rentaikei
+ と (to)
Ren'youkei
+ たら (tara)
Ren'youkei
+ て (te)
Izenkei
+ ば (ba)
Conditional
forms |
