Grammar Info

N3 Lesson 9: 15/22

できれば

If possible

Structure Legend

Structure

できれば + Phrase
できたら + Phrase

Details

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    Standard

  • 使用域

    一般

About できれば・できたら

Remembering that する has no potential form, the replacement る - Verb できる 'to amount to' will often be used in conjunction with particles, to indicate whether the possibility of amounting to something exists. The conjunction particles or たら will most frequently be used. できれば and できたら are usually translated simply as 'if possible'.
Both できれば and できたら will come at the start of a sentence, before the following statement will express some (desired) outcome.
  • 出来(でき)れば(くるま)()きたいけど電車(でんしゃ)()った(ほう)(はや)かもしれない
    If possible, I would love to go by car, but it might be faster by train.
  • 出来(でき)たら薬局(やっきょく)()頭痛(ずつう)(やく)()って()てくれる
    If possible, can you go to the chemist and buy me some headache medication?
Caution
As and たら are the only 'hypothetical' indicators that can express the process toward potential outcomes, using なら or と would be be illogical. This can be visualized as follows:
(A) できると - Will express the result after achieving (A), not what is required to get there.
(A) できるなら - As なら is just the hypothetical form of だ, It is used to make guesses about what could happen if the situation of (A) exists, not how that situation can be used to produce some other result.

Examples

  • できれば弁当(べんとう)(つく)って()しいな。

    If possible, I would like you to make me a bento.

  • できれば本人(ほんにん)()って(はなし)がしたい。

    If possible, I would like to talk with him directly.

  • それできたら(うれ)しいんですけど。

    If it's possible for you to do that, I would appreciate it.

  • この仕事(しごと)できれば今日中(きょうじゅう)()わらせたい。

    If possible, I want to get this done today.

  • できればあの会社(かいしゃ)(はたら)きたい。

    If possible, I want to work at that company.

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できれば・できたら – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (4 in total)

  • mrnoone

    mrnoone

    About 4 years ago

    Hey @Kuromaku, or maybe, lord Momonga?

    In this case, those two are identical in meaning. From now on, both are accepted by srs.

    PS
    たら, unlike ば can be also used in non-conditional sentences, meaning when, after.

    AたらB
    帰ったらたまたまドミニックに会った。
    When I was coming back home, I unexpectedly met Dominic.

    Though B is mostly something beyond control of the speaker.

    By the way:
    If SRS asks to put something “in another way”, then your answer is also considered correct!

    Cheers!

  • Kuromaku

    Kuromaku

    About 4 years ago

    よく気づいた、デミウルゴス。

    You guys should probably add some hidden references to this show like you did for a few others

  • mrnoone

    mrnoone

    About 4 years ago

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