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
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)早(はや)く言(い)っとくべきだったでしょ。もう店(みせ)が閉(し)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."
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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。」
母(はは):「もう待(ま)っているなら待(ま)っているもっと早(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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Try N1
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Shin Kanzen Master N1 Bunpou
Page 47