なら
If that’s the case…
Noun/Adjective/Verb Plain form+なら
なら means “If that’s the case”.
It is typically used to respond to someone else’s statement. なら emphasizes the “if true” part.
You may nominalize verbs with の and not really change the meaning.
ならば is the same as なら, but is less likely to be spoken.
Examples
- 先生は大丈夫だといったよ。- The teacher said it’s ok.
それならよかった。 – If that’s the case, that is great. - 本当に行くのなら、できるだけのことをやる – If you’re really going to go, I’ll do what I can.
- 彼女がそう言ったなら、僕はしたがう – If she said that, I’ll do it.
- 本当なら安心だ – If that’s true, then I’m relieved.
- やったなら問題ない – If you did it, there’s no problem. (Sounds somewhat doubtful)
は and が
The clause before なら is the topic and should use が and not は, as なら is tied to a specific thing/place/etc.
- 彼が行くなら僕は行かないよ。- If he’s going to go, I won’t.
- 僕が行くなら彼女も行くでしょう – If I go, she’ll probably go too.
Emphasis
なら tends to place emphasis on nouns, since it implicitly excludes other nouns.
- かれなら大丈夫 – It’s ok, if it’s him. (maybe not if it was someone else)
- 土曜日なら行ける – I can go if it’s Saturday. (Other days won’t work)
Events before the conditional
Unlike other conditionals, the statement after なら may occur before the conditional
- 旅行に行くなら、カメラを買う- If I’m going travelling, I will buy a camera.
- 旅行に行ったら、カメラを買う✖ – If I have gone travelling, then I will buy a camera.
- 旅行に行くと、カメラを買う – If I have gone travelling, naturally I’ll (then) buy a camera.
- 旅行に行けば、カメラを買う – If I have gone travelling, then I will buy a camera.
ば、たら, and と are wrong here if you intend to buy the camera before you go travelling.