Japanese from zero · N4 Lesson 8
If… (1)
〜たら ・ 〜たら どう？ ・ 〜たら いいですか ・ 〜と (whenever)
In this lesson, you will learn to say 'if' and 'when' with 〜たら, to give a friend advice with 〜たら どう？, to ask what you should do, and to say what always happens when something else happens. Lisa asks Tanaka's sister Ai for advice about a permit for her part-time job.
By the end you will be able to say
困ったら、連絡して ください。If you get stuck, please get in touch.
入管に 行ったら どうですか。Why don't you go to the immigration office?
何を 持って いったら いいですか。What should I bring?
朝 早く 行くと、空いて います。If you go early in the morning, it isn't crowded.
授業が 終わったら、図書館へ 行きます。When class is over, I'll go to the library.
The grammar in this lesson
- If, when: 〜たら — The plain past + ら makes 'if' or 'when (after)': 困ったら, 終わったら.
- Why don't you…?: 〜たら どう？ — た-form + ら + どう？ is a friendly suggestion: why don't you…?
- What should I do?: 〜たら いいですか — Question word + た-form + ら いいですか asks for advice: what, where or when should I…?
- Whenever: 〜と — Plain present + と says that whenever the first thing happens, the second follows.