if, when, after

Formed from the past tense plus ら, たら is the most flexible conditional. It covers one-time conditions and sequences: once A happens, then B. Unlike と and ば, the second clause can freely be a request, suggestion, or volitional statement.

Examples

• 駅えきに着ついたら、電話でんわしてください。

  Eki ni tsuitara, denwa shite kudasai.

  When you arrive at the station, please call me.

• お金かねがあったら、新あたらしい車くるまを買かいたいです。

  Okane ga attara, atarashii kuruma o kaitai desu.

  If I had money, I would want to buy a new car.

Vocabulary in these examples

• 駅 station
• 着く to arrive
• 電話 telephone
• する to do
• くださる to give (honorific)
• お金 money

Related patterns · Conditionals

• 〜と（条件） if, when, whenever (natural result)
• 〜ば if (hypothetical condition)
• 〜なら if that is the case, if you are talking about