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JLPT N4 · Conditionals (if / when)

ば (ba)

～ば — the conditional “if ～”

In short · The ば-form states a condition: ‘if ～ (then …)’. It is made from the verb or adjective and tends to describe a natural or general result of the condition. It is a basic conditional form to learn at N4.
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Pattern

  • 動詞：e段＋ば（1グループ）／る→れば（2グループ） u-verb: change the final u to e + ば (押す → 押せば); ru-verb: る → れば (食べる → 食べれば)
  • い形容詞：い → ければ／名詞・な形容詞：なら(ば) い-adj: い → ければ (安い → 安ければ); noun/な-adj: なら (春なら)

How to form it

Verbs: change the last sound to the e-column and add ば (押す → 押せば), or for ru-verbs change る to れば (食べる → 食べれば). Irregular: する → すれば, 来る → 来れば. い-adjectives: 安い → 安ければ. The negative is ～なければ.

Meaning

ば links a condition with a natural result: ボタンを押せば、ドアが開きます (if you press the button, the door opens). It is often used for rules, procedures and general truths.

Note

The main clause usually should not express the speaker's will, request or order when the ば clause is an action (e.g., 安ければ買いなさい is not natural). For these, たら is safer. With a state in the ば clause it works: 安ければ、二つ買います.

Examples

  • ボタンを押（お）せば、ドアが開（あ）きます。

    Botan o oseba, doa ga akimasu.

    If you push the button, the door opens.

    押す → 押せ + ば.

  • 安（やす）ければ、二（ふた）つ買（か）います。

    Yasukereba, futatsu kaimasu.

    If it's cheap, I'll buy two.

    安い → 安ければ.

  • 春（はる）になれば、花（はな）が咲（さ）きます。

    Haru ni nareba, hana ga sakimasu.

    When spring comes, the flowers bloom.

    なる → なれば.

Common mistakes

  • い-adjectives use ければ, not いば: 安ければ, not 安いば.
  • Be careful with ば when the second half is a request or the speaker's will; たら is usually safer.

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