～ば

How to form it

• Verb: e-ending (行けば、食べれば...) ; ます-form change: う-row → え-row + ば
• い-adjective: ～ければ
• な-adjective: ～なら(ば) / であれば
• Noun: ～なら(ば) / であれば
• Negative: ～なければ

Register: Neutral

Explanation

Says that if one condition is met, the result follows. It often states a general rule or a condition that makes something possible or necessary.

ば focuses on the condition itself: 'if only this is true'. It is common in general truths and proverbs, and with ~ばいい to give advice. When the main clause is a request or the speaker's will, the condition is usually a state, and the pattern is less suitable for a one-time action.

Examples

1. 急げば、まだ間に合う。

   いそげば、まだまにあう。

   If you hurry, you can still make it.

2. 安ければ、買うつもりだ。

   やすければ、かうつもりだ。

   If it is cheap, I intend to buy it.

3. 天気がよければ、公園で昼ご飯を食べましょう。

   てんきがよければ、こうえんでひるごはんをたべましょう。

   If the weather is good, let us eat lunch in the park.

4. 練習すれば、上手になりますよ。

   れんしゅうすれば、じょうずになりますよ。

   If you practise, you will get good.

Compare with

• ～たら: たら can be used for a one-time action and for requests; ば suits general conditions.
• ～と(条件): と is for natural or automatic results; ば is a condition that can lead to many results.
• ～なら: なら is for assumptions based on what the other person said.

Common mistakes

• Using a past form in the condition for a plain 'if' (行ったば is wrong). Use the え-row form.