When partnered with several of the 仮定(かてい) ‘assumption’ based expressions that are used in Japanese, the 格助詞(かくじょし) (case marking particle) と may be used to show a hypothesis about a certain result. This is one of the 結果(けっか) ‘result’ highlighting uses of と. Structures that may be seen are as follows:
(A)
としたら (B) - When (A) is the result (B).
(A)
とすれば (B) - If the result is (A), (B).
(A)
とすると (B) - A result of (A) will be (B).
Although these nuances are slightly different, realistically they are used in almost exactly the same way, to express a possible (undetermined) result. This can be translated to ‘assuming that (A)’, or ‘if it were the case that (A)’.
To use these expressions, simply attach と and your chosen variation of したら to the end of any verb/
い-Adjective, or noun/
な-Adjective followed by
だ.
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来週(らいしゅう)出(で)かけるとしたらどこに行(い)きたい?
If we were to go out next week, where would you want to go?
歯(は)が痛(いた)いとすれば、虫歯(むしば)かもしれません。
If your tooth hurts, you might have a cavity.
この壁(かべ)が真(ま)っ直(す)ぐだとすると、こっちの壁(かべ)は斜(なな)めっていうこと?
Assuming that this wall here is straight, does that mean that this one here is slanted?
通勤(いどう)手段(しゅだん)が車(くるま)だとしたら、交通費(こうつうひ)は出(で)ません。
Assuming that your mode of transportation is your car, transportation will not be compensated.