Grammar Info

N3 Lesson 9: 21/22

もしも～なら If, Supposing

Structure

もしも + Phrase［なら］(1)

(1) Phrase［ば］、Phrase［と］、Phrase［ても］

Details

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About もしも～なら・もしも～でも

もしも is an adverb in Japanese that strengthens the base meaning of もし 'a bit'. Therefore, the literal meaning of もしも is 'even a bit'. Despite this, as もし and もしも are almost exclusively paired with sentences that use some sort of assumption, or 'hypothesis' based expression, もしも will often be translated as 'supposing that'.

もしも will be used at the beginning of sentences that include almost any form of hypothesis expression. For example, ば, と, なら, or ても.

Although もしも is considered a stand-alone adverb, it is just a combination of もし, and the adverbial particle も.

Caution

もし and もしも are most often used to express some type of result. This means that (B) will happen if (A) happens, or if (A) is true. However, たとえ is contrastive, and therefore asks 'what the result' of a specific situation may be.

  • もし、また宿題(しゅくだい)を忘(わす)れたら親(おや)に電話(でんわ)をします。
    Assuming you forget your homework again, I will call your parents. (Calling their parents will be the result of forgetting their homework)
  • たとえ、テストが難(むずか)しくても最後(さいご)まで諦(あきら)めないで頑張(がんば)ってください。
    If, for example, the test is hard, don't give up, and do your best until the very end. (If the test is difficult, doing your best is not a result, just one of many choices that could be made)

Examples

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    もしもドラえもんがいたなら、助(たす)けてもらえるのに。

    If Doraemon were here, he would help us.

    もしも僕(ぼく)がドラえもんでも助(たす)けられない。

    Even if I were Doraemon I would be unable to help.

    もしも戦(たたか)うなら囲碁(いご)がいい。

    If we are going to battle, I say we settle it with a game of Go.

    もしも可能(かのう)なら、僕(ぼく)も仲間(なかま)に入(はい)りたい。

    If possible, I want to join you.

    もしもこれが現実(げんじつ)でも、受(う)け入(い)れられると思(おも)います。

    Even if this is a hard fact, I think that I can accept it.

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