タグ: conditional clause

Japanese learning (A3 S25): Preconditional Clause with “-tara,”; One thing has Happened, and then What to come next; [V-ta]+tara, [Main Clause].

Yesterday, we learned the following construction;

1. [Preconditional Clause] + tara, [Main Clause].

In this construction, the preconditional clause has the predicates of a verb, I-adjective, Na-adjective, and Noun. Today, we are learning the same construction, but its predicates in the preconditional clause are limited to be verbs. In such case, the description below would be better to understand;

2. [Verb Clause] + tara, [Main Clause].

=> [V-ta] + ra, [What to do/What to happen next].

If a verb is in Ta-form, it means the action of the verb has been completed. Although I often call Ta-form “past/perfect tense”, but let us focus on “perfect” this time. Because Ta-form is used not only for action in the past, but also for action in the future, which will be completed in the future.

Here are exapmles;

3. Satou-san ga Kitara, Isshoni Dekake mashou. (Once Sato-san come here, let us go outside together.)

4. Kaisha ni Tsuitara, Sugu Pasokon o Tsukemasu. (As soon as I arrive at the office, I turn on my computer.)

5. Go-ji Han ni Nattara, Ie ni Kaeritai desu. (Come Five-thirty, I want to go home.)

Yesterday’s “’tara’ precondition” was just an assumed condition. Such conditions are often stative especially for the precondition clause that has a predicate of I-adjective, Na-adjective, or Noun. On the other, today’s “’tara’ precondition” describes something gets completed. Therefore, verb is used for the predicate in the precondition clause. As you see in the sentence 3 to 5, “Kita”, “Tsuita”, and “Natta” are all Ta-forms. Ta-form has the function to express that action has been completed. What is said in the main clause is what will you do (or what will happen) after an action in the precondition clause was completed. So, for this nature, the probability of occurrence of the preconditional clause tends to be higher than yesterday’s “tara precondition”s. “Sato-san ga Kitara” in 3 is about to happen, “Kaisha ni Tsuitara” in 4 is an everyday thing, and “Go-ji Han ni Nattara” in 5 is bound to happen.

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This post was written with reference to the exercise A3 on Section25 of “Minna no Nihongo (2nd Edition)” published by “3A Corporation”

Japanese Learning(S23): Difference between {[A]toki,[B].} and {[A]to, [B].}

In the section 23, you learned two types of sentence constructions;

A1

[Conditional Clause A]+toki, [Main Clause].

Exmaple: Douro o Wataru toki, Kuruma ni Ki o Tsukemasu. (When crossing a road, I pay attention to cars.)

A4

[Conditional Clause A]+to, [Main Clause].

Example: Douro o Wataru to, Kombini ga Arimasu. (If you corss the road, you will find a convinience store.)

Is the difference between the two clear to you?

(1) Freedom about Main clause

{[A]+toki,[B].}

— When A is happening, someone does B. The “someone” has freedom to do B to some extent. “Some extent” means that B is limited to be what an ordinary people usually do. If B is what an ordinary people usually don’t, different expression needs to be used. But it is not what we are focusing on now. 

– Example: Uchi ni Kaeru toki, Osake o Kaimasu. (When I am on my way home, I will buy Sake.)

There is a freedom about what you buy on your way home. Someone wants to buy Alcohol, another person packages of ready-made food for night meal.

{[A]+to, [B].}

— When A has happened, then B happens, or B is caused as the result of A. A tends to be a hypothetical condition, but once A has happened, there is not much freedom about occurrence of B.

– Example: Uchi ni Kaeru to, Mazu Doa no Kagi o Akemasu. (When I get home, I open the door key first.)

– Example: Ame ga Furu to, Undou-kai wa Chuushi desu. (If it rains, the sports event will be cancelled.)

(2) Time sequence of the conditional clause and the main clause.

{[A]+toki,[B].}

— While A is happening, B happens.

Exmaple: Douro o Wataru toki, Kuruma ni Ki o Tsukemasu. (When crossing a road, I pay attention to cars.)

During crossing the road, you pay attention to cars.

{[A]+to, [B].}

 — Once A has happened, and then B is caused.

Exmaple: Douro o Wataru to, Shoutengai ni Tsukimasu. (When you have crossed the road, you get to the shopping mall.)

When you got to the shopping mall, your action crossing the road has already ended.

<Quiz>

Choose “toki” or “to”. The answers will be shown tomorrow.

(1) Terebi o Miru { toki or to }, Megane o Kakemasu.

(2) Terebi o Miru { toki or to }, Iroirona Nyu’usu ga Wakarimasu.

(3) Ano Singou de Hidari ni Magaru { toki or to }, Yuubinkyoku ga arimasu.

(4) Eki ni Tsuita { toki or to }, Tanaka-san ni Aimashita.

This post was written with reference to the Section23 of “Minna no Nihongo (2nd Edition)” published by “3A Corporation”