タグ: hypothetical clause

We are learning how to make a hypothetical sentence in the section 35. In the sentence construction of;

[Hypothetical clause], [Main clause].

The conjunctive particle “-ba” is used for verbs and I-adjectives, and “-nara” is used for Na-adjectives and Nouns at the end of the hypothetical clause. More precisely as for “-ba”, verbs become conditional form whose last letter is “ba”. And I-adjectives become “[Stem]+kereba”.

The example sentences in the exercise A4 have I-adjectives, Na-adjective, and Noun in the hypothetical clause.

1. Ashita Tenki ga Yokereba, Umi de Oyogeru to Omoi masu. (If the weather is fine tomorrow, I think we will be able to swim in the sea.)

You need to know that the first letter “i” of the I-adjective “ii” often turns to be “yo” as shown below;

“i” remains to be “i”  

– Modifying a noun : Ii Tenki (desu.)

– Being a predicate : Tenki wa Ii desu.

“i” turns to be “yo”

– Negative form : Yokunai (desu.)

– Past tense : Yokatta (desu.)

– Conditional form : Yokereba

2. Eakon no Choushi ga Warukereba, Itte Kudasai. (If the air-conditioner doesn’t work well, please tell me so. )

where, “Choushi” is a noun meaning how well it works (or sometimes a person feels well him/herself).

The sentence 2 uses an I-adjective “Warui” in the form of “Warukereba”.

3. Sono Kokuritsu Kouen ga Kirei nara, Kondo Isshoni Ikimasenka. (If that national park is so beautiful, shall we go there together for the next time?)  

Don’t say “(WRONG)Kirekereba”, because “Kirei” is not an I-adjective but a Na-adjective.

4. Ashita Shigoto ga Yasumi nara, Umi e Oyogi ni Ikitai desu.(If my work is off tomorrow, I want to go swim in the sea.)

“Yasumi” is a noun, while “Yasumu” is a verb. In this case, you cannot say “(WRONG) Ashita Shigoto o Yasumeba, Umi ni Oyogi ni Ikitaidsu”. Actually, there are some restrictions on sentence endings when using “-ba,”. A sentence uses “-ba” cannot end with expressions of volition, invitation, command and so on. In the sentence 4, the auxiliary verb “-tai” for desire is used in part of “Ikitai desu.”, which is a kind of volition. There are some exceptions* about restrictions on use of “-ba”. It is a little complicated so I put its explanation at the end of this post**. In contrast, when you use “-nara”, it is better to end the sentence with expression revealing speaker’s feeling like volition, invitation, command and so on. For example, the sentence 3 ends with “Ikimasenka” which is an invitation. 

* Actually, the sentence 1 and 2 that use “-ba,” are also exceptions in respect of the followings;

– 1 ends with “to Omoi masu.” which is an expression of volition.

– 2 ends with “Itte kudasai” which is a light command

** There are restrictions on the sentence endings when using conjunctive particle “-ba”. Basically, you cannot end with expressions of volition, invitation, command and so on. But sometimes volition like expression is allowed to the sentence ending when;

– Subordinate clause is stative

 (example; “Tenki ga Yokereba,” in the sentence1, “Choushi wa Warukereba” in the sentence 2)

– Different subjects are used for the subordinate and the main clauses

 (example; the subject in the subordinate clause is Tanki, and the subject in the main clause is Watashi)

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This post was written with reference to the exercise A4 on Section35 of “Minna no Nihongo (2nd Edition)” published by “3A Corporation”