Japanese lesson



Ｆｅｂｒｕａｒｙ 1, 2007

53．"-tara"

 

I entertained some reader questions about conditional sentences, "-to, -ba, -tara and –nara" previously in Lessons 8 and 9.

Beginning with this lesson, we will examine each of these in detail.

 

● about conditional sentences

A sentence in which a first clause acts as a trigger or cause, and restricts the following main clause is called a conditional sentence.

The following ("-tara" "-to" "-ba" "-nara") are the most important conditionals.

 

 

  　　　　　　　　　　tara, 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

  Sentence 1      　　    to,      　　Sentence 2　　　　end of

  subordinate clause　  　ba,       　 main clause        the sentence

                        　　　nara,

 

When considering a conditional sentence, it is important to first decide if it is a non-past or past, that is, whether the situation happened in the past or not.

 

Non-Past:

  (1) Takarakuji ni atattara, nan demo katte yaru yo.

         If I win the lottery, I will buy you anything.

 

  (2) Jikan ga areba, yoku doraibu ni iku.

        If/When I have time, I often go for a drive.

 

  (3) Botan o osu to beru ga naru.

        If you press the button, the bell will ring.

 

Past:

　(4) Jimu e ittara, Yamada-san ni atta.

       When I went to the gym, I met Mr. Yamada.

 

　(5) Jikan ga areba, yoku doraibu ni itta (mono da).

       When I had time, I often went for a drive.

 

  (6) Botan o osu to, beru ga natta.

       When I pressed the button, the bell rang.

 

Among the non-past sentences, in (1) we cannot say for sure if the situation will actually occur. The is called a hypothetical condition. A situation in which something always happens, as in sentences (2) and (3), is called a general condition.

Moreover, a conditional sentence in which the situation has already happened, as in sentences (4) - (6), is called a definite condition.

 

● the usages of  "-tara"

1. "-tara" in the non-past

The usages of the non-past "-tara " are as follows.

 

1) Expressing a hypothetical condition (not knowing whether something will actually happen or not).

 

　(7) 100-man-en attara, gookasen de sekai-isshuu shitai.

       If I have 1 million yen, I want to travel around the world on a luxury liner.

 (8) Ame ga futtara, ikimasen.

       If it rains, I will not go.

 

2) Expressing conditions which are nearly certain to occur. ("in that case", "taking advantage of it")  

 

  (9) Gohan o tabetara, watashi no heya e kite kudasai.

       After you finish your meal, please come to my room.

 

　(10) Shigoto ga owattara, puuru e oyogi ni ikoo.

       After we finish work, let’s go to the pool and swim.

 

3) Used as a sentence-final particle

　

　(11) A : Doo shiyoo kana.

          I wonder what to do.

　　　  B: Tomokaku yatte mitara.

          Anyway, let’s try it.

 

2. "-tara" in past

When "-tara" is used in the past (in definite conditions), it expresses the meaning of "only 1 time, by chance, by chance through trial and error”

 

　(12) Takarakuji o kattara, ittoo ni atatta.

       When I bought a lottery ticket, I got the grand prize.  (only 1 time, by chance)   

 

 (13) Machi o aruite itara, Maeda-sensee o mikaketa.

When I was walking through town I saw Dr.. Maeda.　  (by chance)

 

 (14) Nakanaka ugokanakatta ga, kono botan o oshitara, kyuuni ugokidashita.

 

      Although it did not move easily, when I pushed this button, it suddenly began to move. (by chance through trial and error.)  

 

● how to make the "-tara" form

"-tara" is attached to a verb, an adjective etc..

 

verb	i-adjective
ittara ikanakattara	isogashikattara isogashikunakattara
Na-adjective	Noun ＋da
genki dattara genki ja/dewa nakattara	yasumi dattara Yasumi ja/dewa nakattara

 

● the featureｓ of  "-tara"

The features of the conditional sentence with " –tara, -" are summarized as follows.

 

1), "-tara" is used in the spoken language; it is not used in formal writing.

2) There is a time sequence between the preceding clause and the following main clause (the same as with "-ba" and "-to").

 

　(15) Hokkaidoo e ittara, raamen ga tabetai.

       When I go to Hokkaido I want to eat ramen noodles.

　　　　((15) implies that after the matter in the preceding sentence (going to Hokkaido) happens, the matter of the main clause (I want to eat ramen noodles) occurs. )

 

 (16) ?Hokkaido e ittara, hikooki ga yasu-agari da.

       An airplane is the cheapest if going to Hokkaido.

　　　　(There is no time sequence between going to Hokkaido and an airplane being cheap.)  

 

3) Expressions of intention can come at the end of the sentence. "-tara" sentence can be questions, too.

 

  (17) Kodomo ga netara, dekakeyoo.

        When the child goes to sleep, I will/Let’s go out.

 

　 (18) Ame ga futtara, shiai wa chuushi desu ka.

        Will the game be called off/postponed if it rains?

 

4) While used in hypothetical conditions, "-tara" is seldom used on for general conditions.

 

  (19) Haru ga kitara, yama ni ikoo.  (a hypothetical condition)   

         When spring comes, I will/Let’s go to the mountains.

 

  (20) ? Haru ga kitara, hana ga saku.  (a general condition)

         　When spring comes, flowers will bloom.  

 

5) There is a break after the preceding clause. The matter at hand comes in the following main clause.

 

  (21) A : Kono botan o oshitara, doo naru kashira.

           If I press this button, what will happen?

     　 B: Kono botan o oshitara, …..bakuhatsu suru kamoshirenai.

           If you press this button .... ..it may explode.

 

The subject of a condition clause using "-tara" takes the particle "ga" (as with other subordinate clauses).

 

　(22) Anne-san ga kaette kitara, yuushoku ni shiyoo.

       　When Anne comes back, we will have supper.