日: 2026年8月12日

Japanese Learning (A1 S35): Conditional Form; V+ba, I-adj+kereba, Na-adj+nara, and Noun+nara

Today, we are learning another new conjugation pattern, which is conditional form. When it comes to conjugation patterns, conjugations of verbs are usually the main objectives. However, conditional forms of I-adjectives, Na-adjectives, and Nouns are also dealt with this time. These are necessary when making a hypothetical sentence. Although some examples of hypothetical sentences will be introduced in A2 through A6 in the section 35, let me show you where the conditional forms are used in a hypothetical sentence;

[Hypothetical Clause], [Main Clause].

= [ — + (Conditional Form)], [What will happen if hypothesis comes true].

(1) Verbs

The following examples are shown in the order of Dictionary form, Masu-form, and Conditional form.

<Group 2 Verbs>

Miru / Mimasu (see, watch, look at) — Mireba

Taberu / Tabemasu (eat) — Tabereba

<Group 3 Verbs>

Kuru / Kimasu (come) — Kureba

Suru / Shimasu (do) — Sureba

<Group1 Verbs>

Gr1-W : Tsukau / Tsukaimasu (use) — Tsukaeba

Gr-K : Hataraku / Hatarakimasu (work) — Hatarakeba

Gr1-G : Isogu / Isogimasu (hurry up) — Isogeba

Gr1-S : Naosu / Naoshimasu (repair, correct) — Naoseba

Gr1-T : Matsu / Machimasu (wait for) — Mateba

Gr1-B : Yobu / Yobimasu (call) — Yobeba

Gr1-M : Yomu / Yomimasu (read) — Yomeba

Gr1-R : Hashiru / Hashirimasu (run) — Hashireba

(2) I-adjectives

The following examples are shown in the order of Noun-modifying form and Conditional form.

Yasui — Yasukereba

Oishii — Oishikereba

Ii — Yokereba

(3) Na-adjectives

The following examples are shown in the order of Noun-modifying form and Conditional form.

Kireina — Kireinara

Taisetsuna — Taisetsunara

(4) Nouns

The following examples are shown in the order of Noun and Conditional form of it.

Ame — Amenara

Shigoto — Shigotonara

You may have found by looking at the above, there are two types of conditional forms;

– Verbs, I-adjectives => — + ba

– Na-adjectives, Nouns => — + nara

However, there are some textbooks that introduce “[I-adjective] + nara” even though the book is for beginners’ level. “I-adj+kereba” and “Na-adj+nara” for conditional forms are very fundamental and are what is written in the textbooks for junior high school students.

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This post was written with reference to the exercise A1 on Section35 of “Minna no Nihongo (2nd Edition)” published by “3A Corporation”