1.
if; when; provided that
The general conditional ending, attached to the verb or adjective stem. It presents the first clause as the condition under which the second holds, and is the most neutral and abstract of the Japanese conditionals.
Forms
- Godan verb: final -u → -eba (行く → 行けば)
- Ichidan verb: -る → -れば (食べる → 食べれば)
- I-adjective: -い → -ければ (安い → 安ければ)
- Noun / na-adjective: + であれば or なら
- Negative: -なければ (行かなければ)
Common patterns
- 〜ば〜ほど: the more ~, the more ~ — 読めば読むほど面白い
- 〜ばいい: it would be good if ~, you should ~ — 聞けばいい
- 〜ばよかった: I wish I had ~ — 行けばよかった
- 〜なければならない: must ~
Contrast with other conditionals
- ば: general, abstract condition; least tied to a specific occasion
- たら: if/when, after the first event is completed; best for one-off situations
- なら: if that is the case — responds to information just given
- と: automatic or habitual result; the second clause cannot be a request or command
A request, command, or invitation in the second clause is awkward with ば; use たら instead.