「日本語を勉強するならマギー先生のサイトだよ。」
= Nihongo wo benkyou suru nara Maggie Sensei no saito dayo.
= If you want to study Japanese, you should use Maggie Sensei’s site.
Hi everyone!
Today I will teach you how to use なら ( = nara)
It is going to be a long lesson so please get a cup of coffee before you start reading this lesson.
OK, ready?
⭐️How to form:
* noun + (particle/conjunction＋) なら ( = nara)
* adjective + なら ( = nara)
* verb plain form (present tense / past tense) + なら ( = nara)
When you emphasize, you add の ( = no)
*adjective + の ( = no) + なら ( = nara)
* verb plain form (present tense/ past tense) + の ( = no) + なら ( = nara)
1) Emphasizing what comes before / Expressing one’s ability or characteristic showing your trust.
Ex. マギーならできるよ。
= Maggie nara dekiru yo.
= I believe you can do it, Maggie. / You can definitely do it, Maggie.
(Showing the speaker’s strong belief or trust.)
Ex. 「一人で生活するのは不安だなあ。」
= Hitori de seikatsu suru nowa fuan danaa.
= I feel uneasy about living on my own.
「花ちゃんなら大丈夫だよ。」
= Hana chan nara daijoubu dayo.
= You will be just fine, Hana-chan. (I know you will be fine.)
Ex. 彼なら娘を任せても心配ない。
= Kare nara musume wo makasete mo shinpai nai.
= I believe he can take care of my daughter. (I trust him.)
Ex. あの店なら何を食べても美味しい。
= Ano mise nara nani wo tabete mo oishii.
= I know everything is delicious in that restaurant. (I trust that place.)
Ex. この車なら８人は乗れる。
= Kono kuruma nara hachinin wa noreru.
= This car can hold 8 passengers. (It is big enough.)
Ex. マギー先生ならなんでも答えてくれると思ったのに…。
= Maggie Sensei nara nandemo kotaete kureru to omotta noni…
= I thought you could answer any questions, Maggie…(but you can’t.) (I trusted her but..)
From Maggie Sensei: Not true. Sorry! 😅
2) To emphasize or to give some condition.
(Note: You can replace it with （ん）だったら ( = (n) dattara) )
Ex. 100均ショップなら何でも買えるのに。
= Hyakkin shoppu nara nandemo kaeru noni.
= I would be able to buy anything if it were a dollar shop. (But not in this store.)
Ex. 今なら５０％引きです。
= Ima nara gojuppaasento biki desu.
= If you buy it now, it will be 50 pct off.
(Emphasizing that it is cheap just now.)
Ex. 「小型犬なら飼ってもいいよ。」
= Kogataken nara katte mo iiyo.
= If it is a small dog, we can have one. (limiting the choice/giving a condition)
Ex. あと、２０００円安くなるなら買います。
= Ato, nisen en yasuku naru nara kaimasu.
= If it goes down by 2,000 yen, I will buy it.
Ex. 「フレンチブルドッグなら欲しい。」
= Furenchi burudoggu nara hoshii.
= I only want a dog if it’s a French Bulldog.
Ex. 明日ならつきあってもいいよ。
= Ashita nara tsukiatte mo iiyo.
= I can go out with you if it is tomorrow.
Ex. 「ケーキをどうぞ。」
= Keiki wo douzo.
= Please have some cake.
「甘いものは食べられませんが、少しなら…。」
= Amai mono wa taberaremasen ga, sukoshi nara…
= I don’t eat sweets, but if it is just a little…
Ex. この漢字なら読めます。
= Kono kanji nara yomemasu.
= I can read this kanji. (If it is this kanji, I can read it.)
Ex. Maggie: 「学校の宿題なら手伝いません。」
= Maggie: Gakkou no shukudai nara tetsudaimasen.
= (I will help you but) If it’s your school homework, I won’t help you.
Ex. こういう時、私ならお金を誰かから借ります。
= Kouiu toki, watashi nara okane wo dare ka kara karimasu.
= If it were me, I would borrow money from someone in that kind of situation.
3) To emphasize the topics. (If you are talking about ~ then..)
This usage is hard to translate…
You can emphasize the topics by using なら ( = nara)
Ex. ドギー大学なら知っています。
= Doggie daigaku nara shitte imasu.
= If you are talking about Doggie University, I do know that university.
= I do know Doggie University.
Ex. マギー先生なら会ったことがあります。
= Maggie sensei nara atta koto ga arimasu.
= (If you are talking about that Maggie Sensei, Yes!) I do have seen Maggie sensei.
Ex. 「お母さんはいますか？」
= Okaasan wa imasu ka?
= Is your mother there?
「お母さんなら今、家にいないです。」
= Okaasan nara ima, ie ni inai desu.
= If you are looking for my mother, she is not home now.
= My mother is not home now.
Note: So we don’t always use なら ( = nara) in a conditional sentence.
For example, when someone asks you about something/someone and when you answer emphasizing what you are talking about, you use なら(= nara)
Ex.「すみません。この辺にコンビニはありますか？」
= Sumimasen. Kono hen ni konbini wa arimasuka?
= Excuse me. Is there a convenience store around here?
「 コンビニならあそこにありますよ。」
= Konbini nara asoko ni arimasuyo.
= If you are looking for a convenience store, it is right over there.
= The convenience store is right over there.
Ex. 私なら大丈夫。気にしないで。
= Watashi nara daijoubu. Ki ni shinaide.
= (If you are concerned about me,) I AM good. Don’t worry.
★ ～ + なら ( = nara) + noun: Giving a suggestion, recommending something showing one’s trust.
You will see this pattern in catchphrases.
Ex. 日本に行くなら京都
= Nihon ni iku nara Kyouto
= If you go to Japan, you should go visit Kyoto.
Ex. 東京に行くなら新幹線
= Toukyou ni iku nara shinkansen
= If you go to Tokyo, use the shinkansen (bullet train).
Ex. 友達と旅行に行くならハワイ、彼と旅行に行くならヨーロッパがいいな。
= Tomodachi to ryokou ni iku nara, hawai, kare to ryokou ni iku nara youroppa ga iina.
= If I go traveling with my friend(s), I would like to go to Hawaii. If I go traveling with my boyfriend, I would like to go to Europe.
Ex. 名古屋なら味噌カツ！
= Nagoya nara misokatsu!
= If you go to Nagoya, you have to try Misokatsu (pork cutlet topped with miso sauce)
(To understand this pattern better, you can add がいいです( = ga ii desu) = is preferable, ~をおすすめします。( = o osusume shimasu).)
From the picture above:
「日本語を勉強するならマギー先生のサイトだよ。」 !niconico!
= Nihongo wo benkyou suru nara Maggie Sensei no saito dayo.
= If you want to study Japanese, you should use Maggie Sensei’s site.
( “You should go visit Maggie Sensei’s site/ I highly recommend Maggie Sensei’s site.”)
3) Conditional sentence: If ~
★verb + ( の = no*) + なら ( = nara)
★verb+ なら ( = nara)
★adjective + ( の = no*) + なら ( = nara)
★noun + なら ( = nara)
Note:
*When you emphasize the meaning, you add の ( = no)
*The following sentence of ~ なら( = nara) tends to be used for advice, suggestions, requests, etc.
*You can replace it with verb + のだったら ( = no dattara) / (casual) verb + んだったら( = ndattara)
*Sometimes you add ～ば ( = ba) →ならば ( = ba) . It sounds a little more formal.
Check my
~ ば( = ba) lesson.
*Giving advice:
Ex. もし冬に日本に行くなら、コートを持っていった方がいいよ。
= Moshi fuyu ni nihon ni iku nara kooto wo motte itta hou ga iiyo.
= If you are going to Japan in winter, you should take a coat with you.
Note: You can’t replace 行くなら ( = ikunara) with 行ったら ( = ittara) here.
But you can replace it with 行くのだったら ( = iku no dattara) / (casual) 行くんだったら ( = ikun dattara)
Ex. 彼女とデートに行くならば、ディズニーランドよりディズニーシーの方がいいかもしれないよ。
= Kanojo to deeto ni iku naraba, dizunii rando yori dizunii shii no hou ga iikamo shirenaiyo.
= If you are going to take her out for a date, I think Disney Sea might be better than Disneyland.
Ex. そんなに暑いのなら上着を脱げばいいのに。
= Sonna ni atsui no nara uwagi wo nugeba iinoni.
= If you are that hot, why don’t you take off your jacket?
Ex. 忙しいなら断っていいよ。
= Isogashii nara kotowatte iiyo.
= If you are busy, you can decline.
*You can use it with a particle.
Ex. 彼女にならなんでも買ってあげたい。
= Kanojo ni nara nandemo katte agetai.
= I would buy anything (if it is) for her.
Ex. あなたのためなら何でもします。
= Anata no tame nara nandemo shimasu.
= I would do anything (if it is) for you.
Ex. コンサートが８時からなら間に合うんだけど。
= Konsaato ga hachiji kara nara maniaun dakedo.
=If the concert starts at eight, I would be able to make it./ I can make it.
Ex. 駅までなら乗せてあげるよ。
= Eki made nara nosete ageru yo.
= I will give you a ride if you are going to the station.
* Giving a request
Ex. もし出かけるなら卵を買ってきて。
= Moshi dekakeru nara tamago wo katte kite.
= If you are going out, buy some eggs.
Ex. 答えを知っているのなら教えてよ。
= Kotae wo shitte iru no nara oshiete yo.
= If you know the answer, just tell me.
Ex. 困っているなら相談してください。
= Komatte iru nara soudan shite kudasai.
= If you are in trouble, talk to me. (consult with me.)
Ex. これ、食べないならもらってもいい？
= Kore, tabenai nara moratte mo ii?
= If you’re not going to eat this, can I have it?
* conclusion, decision
Ex. 明日、雨なら行きません。
= Ashita, ame nara ikimasen.
= If it rains tomorrow, I won’t go.
Ex. 結婚してくれないなら別れます。
= Kekkon shite kurenai nara wakaremasu.
= If you are not planning to marry me, I will break up with you.
Ex. 生まれてくる赤ちゃんが男の子なら、マギ男、女の子ならマギ子という名前をつけます。
= Umarete kuru akachan ga otoko no ko nara, Magio, onnanoko nara Magiko toiu namae wo tsukemasu.
= If my unborn baby is a boy, I will name him “Maggio” and if the baby is a girl, I will name her “Magiko”.
The difference between なら ( = nara) and たら ( = tara)
Note 1)
a) マギーが出かけるなら私も行きます。
= Maggie ga dekakeru nara watashi mo ikimasu.
b) マギーが出かけたら私も行きます。
= Maggie ga dekaketara watashi mo ikimasu.
a) can be replaced with 出かけるのだったら ( = dekakeru no dattara) / ( casual) 出かけるんだったら ( = dekakerun dattara)
a) means “If you go out, I will go out with you, Maggie. / If Maggie goes out, I will go with her.”
b) means “I will go out after Maggie leaves.”
Note 2): verb + の ( = no) + なら ( = nara)
When you emphasize the condition of the verb, you add の ( = no) before なら ( = nara) .
マギーが出かけるなら私も行きます。
= Maggie ga dekakeru nara watashi mo ikimasu.
:u:
マギーが出かけるのなら私も行きます。
= Maggie ga dekakeru no nara watashi mo ikimasu.
★*past tense ～た ( = ta) + なら ( = nara): hypothetical usage: When you assume something. / to state something counterfactual
You can add ば ( = ba) to emphasize the feeling.
ならば ( = naraba)
（I will make a lesson on ば (=ba) sometime.)
Note: You can replace it with ~たら ( = tara)
Ex. もし父がここにいたなら（ば）なんと言うだろう。
= Moshi chichi ga koko ni ita nara nanto iu darou.
= If my father were here, I wonder what he would say.
Ex. もしも祖父が生きていたなら（ば）私の結婚をきっと喜んでくれるだろう。
= Moshimo sofu ga ikite itanara watashi no kekkon wo kitto yorkon de kureru darou.
= If my grandfather were alive, I am sure he would be very happy for my marriage.
★それなら ( = sorenara): If so, if that’s the case, then
Ex. 「天ぷらが食べたいんですか？それなら天喜がいいですよ。」
= Tenpura ga tabetain desuka? Sore nara tenki ga ii desu yo.
= So you want to eat tempura? Then I recommend Tenki.
Ex. 「それなら、今夜、行ってみます。」
= Sore nara, konya, itte mimasu.
= OK, then I will give it a try and go there tonight.
Ex. 「早く、行こうよ！時間がないんだから。」
= Hayaku, ikou yo! Jikan ga nain dakara.
= Hurry up! Let’s go!! We are running out of time.
「それなら手伝ってよ。」
= Sore nara tetsudatte yo.
= Then help me!
Ex. A: 「ハワイに行かない？」
= Hawai ni ikanai?
= Do you want to go to Hawaii?
B:「そんなお金ないよ。」
= Sonna okane naiyo.
= I can’t afford it.
A:「僕が全部払ってあげる。」
= Boku ga zenbu haratte ageru.
= I will pay everything for you.
B: 「それなら話は別！行く！行く！！」
= Sorenara hanashi wa betsu! Iku! Iku!!
= Then it’s a different story. I am definitely going!
Ex. 夫:「今から、会社の同僚を家に連れてくるから。」
= Otto: Imakara, kaisha no douryou wo ie ni tsurete kuru kara.
= Husband: I will take my coworkers home soon.
妻:「それならそうともっと早く言ってくれればいいのに。」
=Tsuma; Sorenara souto motto hayaku itte kurereba ii noni.
= Wife: You should have said so earlier.
*Colloquial usage:
We often start a sentence with なら ( = nara) in conversation.: If so, then,…
Ex. 「お茶がもうないよ。」
= Ocha ga mou naiyo.
= We are running out the tea already.
「なら、私が買ってくるよ。」
= Nara, watashi ga katte kuruyo.
= Then I will go get some.
Ex. 「ええっ、iPhoneが動かない。だから触るなって言ったのに。」
= Eeh, ai hon ga ugokanai. Dakara sawaruna tte itta noni.
= What? My iPhone is not working. That is why I told you not to touch it!
「なら、修理代を払えばいいんでしょ。」
= Nara, shuuridai wo haraeba iin desho.
= OK, then I will pay for the repair cost. So that’s that!
Ex. ウェイター:「こちらのお料理はあと３０分かかりますが。」
= Weitaa: Kochira no oryouri wa ato sanjuppun kakarimasu ga.
= Waiter: It will take another 30 minutes for this dish. (Is that OK?)
客: 「ああ、なら別のものを頼みます。」
= Aa, nara betsu no mono wo tanomimasu.
= Oh, then I will order something else.
マギー先生より = Maggie sensei yori = From Maggie Sensei
猫語はあまりよくわかりませんが、犬語ならおまかせください。
= Nekogo wa amari yoku wakarimasen ga, inugo nara omakase kudasai.
= I don’t understand “cat” language very well but you can count on me for “dog” language.
***
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