if (general / hypothetical condition)

The ば conditional states a general or hypothetical condition. Form it by changing a verb's final u-sound to the e-row plus ば (行く to 行けば), i-adjectives drop い and add ければ (高い to 高ければ). It often carries the nuance that the result naturally follows from the condition.

Examples

• 急いそげば間まに合あいます。

  Isogeba maniaimasu.

  If you hurry, you'll make it in time.

• 安やすければ買かいます。

  Yasukereba kaimasu.

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

Vocabulary in these examples

• 急ぐ to hurry
• 間に合う to be in time
• 安い cheap
• 買う to buy

Related patterns · Conditionals

• 〜なら if it's the case that; if you're talking about
• 〜ても even if; even though
• 〜てもかまわない it's fine even if; I don't mind if