Grammar Info

N1 Lesson 4: 7/17

なら〜で

If ~ should, Before ~ should

Structure Legend

Structure

Verb[る]+ なら(1) + Verb[る]+ で
[い]Adjective + なら(1) + [い]Adjective + で
[な]Adjective + なら + [な]Adjective + で
Noun + なら + Noun + で

(1) のなら

Details

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    Standard

  • 使用域

    一般

About なら〜で

なら〜で is a structure which appears in situations where the same word will repeat twice, followed by some sort of opinion in regard to it. It can be translated as 'if (A), you should (B)', or 'before (A), you should (B)'. In many cases it will be used to exhibit the speaker's dissatisfaction about something.
なら〜で may follow verbs in their standard forms, い-Adjectives, な-Adjectives or nouns. Both なら and で are functioning as conjunction particles in this grammar pattern.
  • 仕事(しごと)するならするちゃんとしろ!
    If you are going to work, you should do it properly.
  • ()しいなら()しい(はじ)めっから()ってくれればよかったのに!
    If you wanted it, you should have told me so!
  • (いや)なら(いや)やめればいい。嫌々(いやいや)やっていても(だれ)のためにもならないでしょ。
    If you don't like it, you should quit. Continuing something you don't want to do does not benefit anyone.
  • (やす)なら(やす)ちゃんと(やす)んでください。仕事(しごと)のことはわたしたちに(まか)せてもらって全然(ぜんぜん)いいんで。
    If you are going to take a break, please take a break. You can leave work to us, so no need to worry about that.
Caution
This nuance is different to ば~で, なら〜で, and たら~たで, which are used when conveying that something either is or is not an issue in relation to (A). With this pattern, なら〜で will only appear following な-Adjectives.

Examples

  • 上司(じょうし):「()なら()もっと丁寧(ていねい)仕上(しあ)げなさい。」

    Boss: 'If you are going to paint then (you should) be more careful.'

  • (よる)11()子供(こども):「あした、学校(がっこう)水彩絵(すいさいえ)()()。」
    (はは):「必要(ひつよう)なら必要(ひつよう)(はや)()っとくべきだったでしょ。もう(みせ)()まっちゃった。」

    11 p.m., child: 'I need watercolors for school tomorrow.'
    Mother: 'If you needed it, you should have told me sooner. The shops are already closed.'

  • (むすめ):「もう空港(くうこう)で1時間(じかん)()ってる。」
    (はは):「もう()っているなら()っているもっと(はや)ケータイを()らしてくれたらよかったのに...」

    Daughter: 'I have already waited at the airport for an hour!'
    Mother: 'If you were already there (waiting), then you should have called me sooner…'

  • 彼女(かのじょ):「(じつ)(なか)(いた)の...」
    彼氏(かれし):「(なか)(いた)なら(いた)ベッド()(ほう)いい。あとは(おれ)(まか)せてね。」

    Girlfriend: 'To be honest, my stomach hurts...'
    Boyfriend: 'If your stomach hurts then you had better lie in bed. Leave the rest to me, ok?'

  • イライラした(つま)、ダラダラ()べる(おっと):「()べるなら()べる、きちんと()べなさい。」

    Irritated wife to her husband who is sluggishly eating: 'If you are going to eat, (you should) do it properly!'

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