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All Japanese activities

Activities: "Conditionals: How to say “if” in Japanese?"

By: Masaru Mito

Activity 1: Complete the sentences

Part 1: 〜たら

Complete the following sentences using 〜たら.

  1. Condition: 夏休みになる transcribed natsuyasumi ni narumeaning summer break starts (lit., becomes)

    たら、旅行したいです。
    ... tara, ryokō shitai desu.
    When the summer break starts, I want to travel.

  2. Condition: 寒い transcribed samuimeaning cold

    たら、ジャケットを着ます。
    ... tara, jaketto o kimasu.
    If it’s cold, I will wear a jacket.

Part 2: 〜ば

Complete the following sentences using 〜ば.

  1. Condition: この薬を飲む transcribed kono kusuri o nomumeaning to take this medicine

    ば、元気になりますよ。
    ... ba, genki ni narimasu yo.
    If you take this medicine, you will get better.

  2. Condition: 人が多い transcribed hito ga ōimeaning a lot of people

    ば、仕事が早く終わります。
    ... ba, shigoto ga hayaku owarimasu.
    If (we have) a lot of people, we can finish work early.

  3. Condition: 18歳以下 transcribed jūhassai ikameaning 18 years old and under

    ば、この映画は見られません。
    ... ba, kono eiga wa miraremasen.
    If you’re 18 years old or under, you cannot watch this movie.

  4. Condition: 勉強しない transcribed benkyō shinaimeaning not study

    ば、テストでいい点は取れません。
    ... ba, tesuto de ii ten wa toremasen.
    If you don’t study, you won’t be able to do well on the test.

Part 3: 〜と

Complete the following sentences using 〜と.

  1. Condition: クリスマスが近づく transcribed kurisumasu ga chikazukumeaning Christmas approaches

    と、お店はいそがしくなります。
    ... to, omise wa isogashiku narimasu.
    When Christmas approaches, stores get busy.

  2. Condition: 部屋がきれい transcribed heya ga kireimeaning a room is clean

    と、気持ちがいいです。
    ... to, kimochi ga ii desu.
    If the room is clean, it feels good.

Part 4: 〜なら

Complete the following sentences using 〜なら.

  1. Condition: 道が混んでいる transcribed michi ga konde irumeaning the traffic is bad

    なら、早く家を出た方がいいです。
    ... nara, hayaku ie o deta hō ga ii desu.
    If the traffic is bad, you should leave the house early.

  2. Condition: 頭が痛い transcribed atama ga itaimeaning to have a headache

    なら、今日は仕事を休んだ方がいいですよ。
    ... nara, kyō wa shigoto o yasunda hō ga iidesu yo.
    If you have a headache, you should take a day off from work today.

Activity 2: Pick the correct form

Choose the appropriate option in each set of parentheses.

  1. 海に ( ・ )、タオルを持って行った方がいいですよ。 Umi ni ( iku nara/itta ra ), taoru o motte itta hō ga ii desu yo. If you go to the beach, you should bring towels.

  2. 家に ( ・ )、電話して下さい。 Ie ni ( tsuku nara/tsuita ra ), denwa shite kudasai. When you get home, please call (me).

  3. 週末 ( ・ )、一緒にしませんか。 Shūmatsu ( benkyō suru nara/benkyō suru to ), issho ni shimasen ka. If you study on the weekend, do you want to study together?

  4. 晩ご飯を ( ・ )、映画を見ましょう。 Bangohan o ( tabeta ra/tabereba ), eiga o mimashō. After we eat dinner, let’s watch a movie.

  5. 山田さんが ( ・ )、この試合は勝てたかもしれません。 Yamada san ga ( ireba/iru to ), kono shiai wa kateta kamo shiremasen. If Mr. Yamada had been (on the team), we might have won this game.

  6. 久しぶりに地元に ( ・ )、新しい店がたくさんできていました。 Hisashiburi ni jimoto ni ( kaetta ra/kaereba ), atarashii mise ga takusan dekite imashita. When I returned to my hometown after a long time, (I found that) many new stores had opened up.

  7. 日本に留学 ( ・ )、日本語をたくさん話しました。 Nihon ni ryūgaku ( shita ra/shite ), nihongo o takusan hanashimasita. I studied abroad in Japan and spoke Japanese a lot.

  8. 昨日メール ( ・ )、今日中に返事が来ると思いますよ。 Kinō mēru ( suru nara/shita nara ), kyō jū ni henji ga kuru to omoimasu yo. If you sent an email yesterday, I think you will receive a response by the end of today.