JLPT N4 Conditionals and decisions
N4 gives you four ways to say "if": ば for general conditions, たら for one-off events and "after", と for automatic results, and なら for responding to what someone just said. ことにする and ことになる then split decisions you make yourself from ones made for you. The usual pitfall is using と before a request or intention, which only たら can carry.
11 N4 grammar points in this group
たら (tara): if; when; after
Use たら when you want to express if; when; after in a Japanese sentence.
雨が降ったら、家にいます。 — If it rains, I will stay home.
ば (ba): if; when a condition is met
A ば sentence has two halves: condition + ば、result. The first half is a situation that may or may not be true; the second half is what follows if it is.
時間があれば、映画を見ます。 — If I have time, I’ll watch a movie.
と (to): when; if; naturally results
Use と when you want to express when; if; naturally results in a Japanese sentence.
春になると、桜が咲きます。 — When spring comes, cherry blossoms bloom.
なら (nara): if; when it comes to
Use なら when you want to express the N4 idea of “if; in the case of” in natural Japanese.
日本へ行くなら、京都がおすすめです。 — If you are going to Japan, Kyoto is recommended.
場合は (baai wa): if; in that situation
The pattern is situation + 場合は、what happens / what to do. The first half names a case that may or may not occur; the second half gives the consequence.
雨の場合は、試合はありません。 — If it rains, there will be no game.
ても (temo): even if; even though
Use ても when you want to express even if; even though in a Japanese sentence.
雨が降っても行きます。 — I will go even if it rains.
たらどう (tara dou): why not try; how about
Use たらどう when you want to express why not try; how about in a Japanese sentence.
先生に聞いたらどうですか。 — Why not ask the teacher?
たらいいですか (tara ii desu ka): what should I do
Use たらいいですか when you want to express what should I do in a Japanese sentence.
どこで切符を買ったらいいですか。 — Where should I buy a ticket?
かどうか (ka dou ka): whether or not
Literally, か is the question particle and どう means “how,” so かどうか is roughly “X, or how (is it)?” — X or not.
行くかどうか、まだ分かりません。 — I still don’t know whether I’ll go.
ことにする (koto ni suru): to decide to
Literally, ことにする is “make it (into) the thing of V-ing.” The こと turns the verb into an idea, and にする means “choose / make it this.” You already use にする with nouns when ordering food — コーヒーにします, “I’ll have coffee.” ことにする does the same thing with actions: of all the options, you choose to do this.
毎日日本語を勉強することにしました。 — I’ve decided to study Japanese every day.
ことになる (koto ni naru): it has been decided that
The pattern reports a decision or arrangement without putting the speaker in the role of decision-maker.
来月、大阪に転勤することになりました。 — I’m being transferred to Osaka next month.
Often confused in this group
- たら vs ば vs と vs なら — たら is the all-purpose “if/when”, ば stresses the condition, と marks automatic results, なら means “if that's the case”. 駅に着いたら電話して。
More JLPT N4 grammar groups
- Giving, receiving, requests, and keigo (15)
- Passive, causative, and permission (12)
- Te-form helpers for real conversation (15)
- Time, timing, and sequence (17)
- Plans, intention, and change (8)
- Soft examples, lists, and limits (13)
- Hearsay, appearance, and feelings (17)
- Guessing, certainty, and wondering (11)
- Nominalizers, quoting, and comparison (14)