What is the difference between と vs ば vs たら vs なら?

All four can translate as "if", but each has its own territory. と is for natural, automatic results — things that always follow: 春になると暖かくなる, how a machine works, giving directions; the second half cannot be a request, an invitation or your intention. ば focuses on the condition itself — "if A, then B": 安ければ買います — and is common in advice (〜ばいい). With an action verb, ば cannot be followed by a request, invitation or intention either (×駅に着けば電話してください → 着いたら); with states (ある, いい, adjectives), ば + 〜たい or a request is fine: お金があれば旅行したい. たら is the most general and the most conversational; it is the one for "when/once A has happened" with a single event (駅に着いたら電話して), and for discovering something in the past (窓を開けたら雪だった; と works too in stories: 窓を開けると雪だった). なら picks up a topic or what someone has just said, and the second half often happens first or is advice: 京都に行くなら、新幹線が便利ですよ. When in doubt, たら is usually the safest choice — except for advice about someone else's plan, where なら is needed.

Whenever A, B — a natural, automatic result

If A (then B) — the condition itself

When do you use たら?

If / once A happens — the all-rounder

When do you use なら?

If that's the case / if it's about A — advice on a topic

と vs ば vs たら vs なら: what's the difference?

Four ways to say "if": と for automatic results, ば for conditions, たら for "once A happens", なら for advice on a topic. With examples and a drill.

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The patterns

とWhenever A, B — a natural, automatic resultOpen the lesson
ばIf A (then B) — the condition itselfOpen the lesson
たらIf / once A happens — the all-rounderOpen the lesson
ならIf that's the case / if it's about A — advice on a topicOpen the lesson

The difference

All four can translate as "if", but each has its own territory. と is for natural, automatic results — things that always follow: 春はるになると暖あたたかくなる, how a machine works, giving directions; the second half cannot be a request, an invitation or your intention. ば focuses on the condition itself — "if A, then B": 安やすければ買かいます — and is common in advice (〜ばいい). With an action verb, ば cannot be followed by a request, invitation or intention either (×駅えきに着つけば電話でんわしてください → 着ついたら); with states (ある, いい, adjectives), ば + 〜たい or a request is fine: お金かねがあれば旅行りょこうしたい. たら is the most general and the most conversational; it is the one for "when/once A has happened" with a single event (駅えきに着ついたら電話でんわして), and for discovering something in the past (窓まどを開あけたら雪ゆきだった; と works too in stories: 窓まどを開あけると雪ゆきだった). なら picks up a topic or what someone has just said, and the second half often happens first or is advice: 京都きょうとに行いくなら、新幹線しんかんせんが便利べんりですよ. When in doubt, たら is usually the safest choice — except for advice about someone else's plan, where なら is needed.

Side by side

とこのボタンを押おすと、水みずが出でます。When you press this button, water comes out.

たら駅えきに着ついたら、電話でんわしてください。Please call me when you get to the station.

と for an automatic result; with a request, use たら.

ば安やすければ、買かいます。If it's cheap, I'll buy it.

ならパソコンを買かうなら、この店みせが安やすいですよ。If you're going to buy a computer, this shop is cheap.

ば states the condition; なら gives advice before the action.

たら家いえに帰かえったら、手紙てがみが届とどいていた。When I got home, a letter had arrived.

と春はるになると、桜さくらが咲さきます。When spring comes, the cherry trees blossom.

たら: a one-off discovery. と: what always happens.

なら日本にほんに行いくなら、日本語にほんごを少すこし勉強べんきょうしたほうがいいですよ。If you're going to Japan, you'd better study a little Japanese first.

たら日本にほんに行いったら、お寿司すしを食たべたいです。When I go to Japan, I want to eat sushi.

なら: B comes before A (study before going). たら: B comes after A (eat once there).

Quick drill

Pick the word that fits the blank. You get the answer straight away.

駅えきに＿＿、電話でんわしてください。
この道みちをまっすぐ行いって、右みぎに＿＿、郵便局ゆうびんきょくがあります。
来週らいしゅう北海道ほっかいどうに行いきます。— 北海道ほっかいどうに＿＿、暖あたたかい服ふくを持もっていったほうがいいですよ。
窓まどを＿＿、外そとは雪ゆきだった。
冬ふゆに＿＿、寒さむくなります。
お金かねが＿＿、世界せかい旅行りょこうがしたい。
この薬くすりを＿＿、すぐ治なおりますよ。

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