Postby nandemoii » June 16th, 2007 5:58 am
I typed it in for myself a few month ago when I was beginning to learn Japanese, I have not proofread it properly, there might be some typoes.
Stefan Kaiser, Yasuko Ichikawa, Noriko Kobayashi, Hilofumi Yamamoto
JAPANESE: A COMPREHENSIVE GRAMMAR
14 -ba, dattara, nara, -tara, to: COMPARISON
-ba, nara (dattara), to and -tara are all conjunctive P indicating a condition.
The fact that comparison of their uses is a favourite research topic shows that their differences cannot be explained easily.
Things are complicated by both the fact that classical usage, which was different from modern spoken usage, affects formal written modern Japanese, and the fact that there is considerable overlap between the forms. Furthermore, there are combinations of these particles, such as -tara-ba and (-ta) nara-ba.
Below is a brief comparison of these particles, centring chiefly on their meanings.
All examples in this section are made-up examples (the % sign is omitted).
14.1 Comparison of forms
14.2 Comparison of use
14.2.1 Used in the sense of 'if'
14.2.1.1 -ba
14.2.1.2 nara/dattara
14.2.1.3 -tara
14.2.1.4 to
14.2.2 Used in the sense of 'when'
14.2.2.1 to
14.2.2.2 -tara
14.2.2.3 -ba
14.2.2.4 nara
14.1 COMPARISON OF FORMS
Table 3 Forms used with conjunctional particles: comparison
to -tara -ba nara
(V-ru] to [V-ta] ra [V-conditional] [V-ru] nara [V-ta] nara
(adj.-i] to [adj.-katta] ra [adj.-conditional] [adj.-i] nara [adj.-katta] nara
[N/AN] da to [N/AN] dattara [cop.-conditional] [N/AN] nara [N/AN datta] nara
14.2 COMPARISON OF USE
In English translation, these P mostly translate as 'when' or 'if'. The equivalents without () are typical meanings, but the ones in () are also found.
36 JAPANESE: A COMPREHENSIVE GRAMMAR
to when (if)
-tara when (if)
-ba if (when)
nara/-dattara if
14.2.1 Used in the sense of 'if'
14.2.1.1 -ba
The speaker/writer makes a presumption in S1, and states the expected outcome in S2 (in this respect -ba differs from nara).
Basically, S1-ba S2 operates with the restriction that the actor (subject) cannot control the action of the V or state in either S1 and S2, or both. Below, the + sign expresses 'control', and the – sign, 'no control'.
× Indicates that this is not a possible sentence.
S1-ba S2
- - 安ければ売れる。
yasukereba ureru
If it's cheap, it'll sell.
+ - 話せば分かる。
hanaseba wakaru
If I talk to him, he'll understand.
+ - 高ければ買わない。
- + takakereba kawanai
If it's expensive, I won't buy it.
- + 安ければ買う。
yasukereba kau
If it's cheap, I'll buy it.
- + あなたが行けば私も行く。
anata ga ikeba watashi mo iku
If you go,* I'll go too.
+ + × カメラを買えば貸してあげる。
kamera o kaeba kashite ageru
If I buy a camera I'll lend it to you.
Note – * From the subject/actor's point of view, the action of the second person (you) cannot be controlled.
When S2 is in the past, the condition becomes hypothetical 'if . . . had'.
14.2.1.2 nara/ dattara
With nara/dattara, the presumption of S1 does not state the speaker's judgement, as with -ba. Instead, it takes up something from the previous
JAPANESE: A COMPREHENSIVE GRAMMAR 37
context or some other, already established, fact, and expresses the meaning of 'I don't really know, but if the assumption is correct/if what you're saying is right'. In other words, S1 is an assumption that is based on something/ somebody other than the speaker, and S2 is the speaker's evaluation or judgement based on that assumption.
Normally, S1 concerns something outside the speaker, and even if it concerns the speaker, it sounds as if it concerned someone else.
a 不満があるなら、直接言え。 fuman ga aru nara chokusetsu ie [To someone who seems to be muttering some complaint:] If you have something to complain about, tell me directly!
nara/dattara do not express a succession in time 'when' (except in the combination -ta nara, which is similar in meaning to -tara), and therefore there is no fixed time order of S1 and S2; often, S2 actually precedes S1:
b 明日返してくれるなら、この本を貸してあげる。 ashita kaeshite kureru nara kono hon o kashite ageru If you'll return it tomorrow, I'll lend you this book.
Noun + nara can indicate the topic of a S, and can be replaced by N wa. The difference can be explained as a topic raised by someone else (nara), and by the speaker himself (wa).
14.2.1.3 -tara
When -tara translates as 'when', it can basically be replaced by -ba. However, this is not always possible due to the restrictions on controllability of the verb in the case of -ba (see 14.2.1.1).
In -tara sentences, S2 can freely indicate the speaker's intention (requests, hortative, etc.). Also, When S2 is in the past, it can express a hypothetical condition.
-tara has a colloquial ring, and therefore in expository and academic prose, etc, -ba is used instead.
14.2.1.4 to
With to, the conditional meaning of 'if . . . then . . .', 'if not . . . then not . . .' is weak, being more like 'when' or 'whenever', with the result of S1 becoming apparent (in S2).
a そこを曲がると、駅はすぐです。 soko o magaru to eki wa sugu desu When you turn that corner, it's just a short distance to the station.
38 JAPANESE: A COMPREHENSIVE GRAMMAR
With to, the speaker's intention (expressions of request, hortative, etc.) cannot be used.
b × そこを曲がると、駅に行ってください。
soko o magaru to eki ni itte kudasai
14.2.2 Used in the sense of 'when'
14.2.2.1 to
Essentially, to means 'when', expressing habitual or natural (commonsense) occurrences in the present or past.
a 学校から帰ると毎日泳いだ。 gakkō kara kaeru to mainichi oyoida When I got back from school, I used to swim every day.
to is typically used in the sense that S2 is noticed or discovered as a result of the realization of S1. In this use, the pred. of S2 cannot express intention, i.e. S2 has a different subject than that of Sl, or expresses a state, usually in the past.
b 家に帰ると・帰ったら手紙が来ていた。 ie ni kaeru to/kaettara, tegami ga kite ita When I got back home, there was a letter.
The difference between to and -tara here is that -tara is colloquial, everyday language, whereas the effect of to is more dramatic, i.e. it is typically used to tell some gripping tale, or in written stories.
14.2.2.2 -tara
-tara can be used freely in the sense of both 'when' and 'if', with a colloquial ring. With -tara, S2 can express the speaker's intention (request, hortative, etc.), as in example a.
a ３時になったら、お茶にしましょう。 sanji ni nattara, o-cha ni shimashō At 3 o'clock, let's have some tea.
-tara cannot be used for a time sequence in the past (example b), but it's OK in the present tense. Note that example d has a narrative (story) ring to it.
A simple sequence of actions, in the sense of 'and' rather than 'when' is expressed by -te (example e, see 31.1.3).
b × 彼は家に帰ったら電話をかけた。
kare wa ie ni kaettara denwa o kaketa
JAPANESE: A COMPREHENSIVE GRAMMAR 39
c 朝起きたら新聞を取りに行く。 asa okitara shinbun o tori ni iku When I get up in the morning, I'll go and fetch the paper.
d 彼は家に帰ると電話をかけた。 kare wa ie ni kaeru to denwa o kaketa When he got back home, he made a phone call.
e 彼は家に帰って電話をかけた。 kare wa ie ni kaette denwa o kaketa He went home, and made a phone call.
14.2.2.3 -ba
In generalizing statements, -ba can be used in the sense of 'when', but only in the present, not the past.
a 歳をとれば、見えにくくなる。 toshi o toreba mienikuku naru When/as one gets older, one's eyesight deteriorates.
14.2.2.4 nara
nara cannot be used in the sense of 'when'.
