Grammar Info
N1 Lesson 4: 7/17

なら〜で
if ~ should, before ~ should

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
Structure Legend  
Details
Register Standard
使用域 一般
Information
  • [AならAでB is used to express that in situation A, B is appropriate]
  • [The pattern often has a patronizing tone and nuance of dissatisfaction or annoyance that expectations were not met]
  • [なら〜で is used in situations where a parent, teacher, superior, or someone older instructs a minor or subordinate]
  • [Generally used with expressions of duty or obligation like なさい、方がいい、ください、べき and expressions like べきだった、はずだった、ばいいのに, and so on]
  • [Sometimes you can encounter たら/ば instead of なら, but those are more common in another A[たら/ば]A[た]でB pattern where, contrary to what you normally would expect from A, B is the case]
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上司（じょうし）：「塗（ぬ）るなら塗（ぬ）るでもっと丁寧（ていねい）に仕上（しあ）げなさい。」
Boss: "If you are going to paint then (you should) be more careful."
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    • 夜（よる）１１時（じ）、子供（こども）：「あした、学校（がっこう）で水彩絵（すいさいえ）の具（ぐ）が要（い）る。｣
    母（はは）：「必要（ひつよう）なら必要（ひつよう）で早（はや）く言（い）っとくべきだったでしょ。もうお店（みせ）が閉（し）まっちゃったよ。」
    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."
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    • 娘（むすめ）：「もう空港（くうこう）で1時間（じかん）も待（ま）ってるよ。」
    母（はは）：「もう待（ま）っているなら待（ま）っているでもっと早（はや）くケータイを鳴（な）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…"
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