Structure
[い]Adjective[い]+ ければ
[な]Adjective + なら(ば)
Noun + なら(ば)
Verbs:
[る1]Verb → 見る + れば
[る5]Verb → 座る + れば
[う]Verb → 歌う + えば
[く]Verb → 歩く + けば
[す]Verb → 話す + せば
[つ]Verb → 打つ + てば
[ぬ]Verb → 死ぬ + ねば
[ぶ]Verb → 飛ぶ + べば
[む]Verb → 休む + めば
[ぐ]Verb → 泳ぐ + げば
Exceptions:
する → すれば
くる → くれば
Negative Forms:
Verb[ない]+ なければ
[い]Adjective[ない]+ なければ
[な]Adjective + で + なければ
Noun + で + なければ
Details
Register
Standard
使用域
一般
About ば
There are several different ways to express 'if' in Japanese. One of these is through using the conjunction particle ば. ば presents hypothetical situations (possibilities), and pairs with verbs using an う to え sound-change conjugation method on the terminal (last) kana. Let's examine this with a few verbs first.
To conjugate い-Adjectives with ば, the い will be replaced with けれ, one of the standard い-Adjective conjugation forms. After this, just add ば.
- 仕事を辞めれば自由時間が増えるけど、お金が無くなる。If I quit work, I will have more free time, but I will have no money.
- 雨が止めば、今日も釣りに行くつもりです。If it stops raining, I intend to go fishing today also.
- そこの信号で右に曲がれば病院に着きます。If you turn right at the light just there, you will get to the hospital.
- 店に電話をすれば、すぐに予約ができるよ。If you call the store, you will be able to make a reservation immediately.
- あいつがくればパーティーが楽しくなると思う。If he comes to the party, I think it will be more fun.
To conjugate い-Adjectives with ば, the い will be replaced with けれ, one of the standard い-Adjective conjugation forms. After this, just add ば.
- 頭が痛ければ、薬を飲んで寝た方がいい。If your head hurts, it would be better if you take some medicine and then sleep.
- ラーメン屋のチャーハンが不味ければ、そこのラーメンも不味いだろう。If a ramen shop's fried rice tastes bad, then the ramen probably tastes bad too, right?
- 刺身が嫌いならば 、寿司も嫌いでしょう。If you do not like sashimi, then you probably don't like sushi either, right?
- バイクならば、バイク専用の駐輪場に止めてください。If it's a motorcycle, please park it in the designated bike parking lot.
- 私が作ったクッキーを食べたくなければ、捨ててもいいよ。If you don't want to eat the cookie that I made, you can throw it away.
- カレーが辛くなければ、いっぱい食べれる。If the curry isn't spicy, I can eat a lot of it.
- トラックの運転手でなければ、この仕事の辛さが分からない。If you aren't a truck driver, then you wouldn't understand the hardships of this job.
Fun Fact
The なら in ならば is often used by itself to mean 'if', and is an abbreviation of the classical auxiliary verb なり 'to be'. In its hypothesis form, なり will become ならば. However, なり is very irregularly used by itself in modern Japanese, with なら, and ならば being far more common.Caution
So that you do not mix up the conjugation rules for ば, and passive verbs, remember that the last kana of the verb will change to an あ sound, before adding れる with passive verbs. However, this change is to an え sound with ば.- 運動をすれば痩せるよ。If you exercise, you will lose weight.
- 夜遅くに電話をされると迷惑です。It is very inconsiderate of you to call this late at night.
Synonyms
Examples
明日雨が降れば、映画を見に行くつもり。
If it rains tomorrow, then I will go watch a movie.
毎日サッカーの練習に行けば、プロのサッカー選手になれる。
If you go to soccer practice every day, then you can become a professional soccer player.
今週の金曜日までにできなければ、来週末に終わらせなくてはいけない。
If (you) cannot do it by this Friday, then (you) have to finish it next weekend.
ヘルメットを被らなければ、バイクに乗れない。
If (you) do not wear a helmet, then (you) cannot ride a motorbike.
展覧会に行けば、色々なことを学べる。
If (you) go to an exhibit, then (you) can learn a variety of things.
Get more example sentences!
Premium users get access to 12 example sentences on all Grammar Points.
Self-Study Sentences
Study your own way!
Add sentences and study them alongside Bunpro sentences.
Online
Japanese Conditional Form
Learn Japanese Adventure
IF ば & もし & "I wish I did ~"
Japanese Ammo with Misa [video]
ば vs. なら
Bunpro Community
Comparing ば and たら
Learn Japanese Adventure
Offline
Genki II 1st Edition
Page 204
みんなの日本語 II
Page 66 [CH 35]
[DBJG] A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar
Page 81
Genki II 2nd Edition
Page 236
Tae Kim's Japanese Grammar Guide
Page 135
Track Resources!
Bunpro tracks all of the resources you’ve visited, and offers relevant bookmarks of physical books to help with offline tracking.
ば – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (25 in total)
gohan_in_arundel
I have a question for the conjugation やめる
雨が止めば、今日も釣りに行くつもりです。
should this not be やめればThanks Andy
nekoyama
The verb isn’t 止める (transitive), it’s 止む (intransitive).
gohan_in_arundel
ahh Thank you yes, of course similar me. Im not very good at the transitive and intransitive
Got questions about ば? Join us to discuss, ask, and learn together!
Join the Discussion