Meaning:
Used to express a condition based on a situation, assumption, or the listener’s statement.
Means “if…,” “when…,” or “in that case…”.

Grammar Point:
「〜なら」 attaches to nouns, verbs, and adjectives.
Often used when giving advice, suggestions, or instructions based on a condition.

Note: な-adjectives and nouns cannot take 〜ば directly. Instead, they use なら or ならば. ならば is more formal and is mostly found in written language. In everyday conversation, なら is far more common.

Formation:
Noun + なら
Verb（plain form）+ なら
Adjective + なら

日本語 / にほんご / Japanese
(1) あなたが健康なら、私は一緒に走る / 走ります。
(2) 明日、休みなら、私は映画を見る / 見ます。
(3) 明後日、雪なら私は外出しない / 外出しません。
(4) 料理するなら、このレシピを読みなさい / 読んでください。
(5) 旅行するなら、このかばんを使いなさい / 使ってください。
(6) 日本語を話したいなら、毎日練習しなさい。
(7) まずいなら、私はこの料理を残す / 残します。
(8) 駅が近いなら、私たちは歩く / 歩きます。

ことばと表現 / Words & Expressions
健康【けんこう￣ /Kenkō/】 health, healthy
明後日【あさ＼って /Asatte/】 the day after tomorrow
レシピ【れ＼しぴ /Reshipi/】 recipe
練習【れんしゅう￣ /Renshū/】 practice
まずい【まず＼い /Mazui/】 bad tasting
残す【のこ＼す /Nokosu/】 to leave (something) behind

英語 / えいご / English
(1) If you are healthy, I will run with you.
(2) If I have a day off tomorrow, I will watch a movie.
(3) If it snows the day after tomorrow, I won’t go out.
(4) If you cook, read this recipe.
(5) If you travel, use this bag.
(6) If you want to speak Japanese, practice every day.
(7) If it tastes bad, I will leave this dish.
(8) If the station is close, we will walk.

ひらがな / Hiragana
(1) あなたがけんこうなら、わたしはいっしょにはしる / はしります。
(2) あした、やすみなら、わたしはえいがをみる / みます。
(3) あさって、ゆきならわたしはがいしゅつしない / がいしゅつしません。
(4) りょうりするなら、このれしぴをよみなさい / よんでください。
(5) りょこうするなら、このかばんをつかいなさい / つかってください。
(6) にほんごをはなしたいなら、まいにちれんしゅうしなさい。
(7) まずいなら、わたしはこのりょうりをのこす / のこします。
(8) えきがちかいなら、わたしたちはあるく / あるきます。

ローマ字 / Roman characters
(1) Anata ga kenkō nara, watashi wa issho ni hashiru / hashirimasu.
(2) Ashita, yasumi nara, watashi wa eiga o miru / mimasu.
(3) Asatte, yuki nara watashi wa gaishutsu shinai / gaishutsu shimasen.
(4) Ryōri suru nara, kono reshipi o yominasai / yonde kudasai.
(5) Ryokō suru nara, kono kaban o tsukainasai / tsukatte kudasai.
(6) Nihongo o hanashitai nara, mainichi renshū shinasai.
(7) Mazui nara, watashi wa kono ryōri o nokosu / nokoshimasu.
(8) Eki ga chikai nara, watashitachi wa aruku / arukimasu.

~tara (たら) vs. ~nara (なら)

In Japanese, both ~tara and ~nara translate to “if” in English, but they are used in different contexts based on timing and the speaker’s intent.

1. ~tara (たら)

Key Concept: “After A happens, B occurs”

~tara is the most versatile conditional. It focuses on a sequence of events where Condition A must be completed before Result B can happen.

• Hypothetical “If”: Used for “if” situations that may or may not happen.
  • Ame ga futtara, ikimasen. (If it rains, I won’t go.)
• Temporal “When/Once”: Used for things that will definitely happen in the future.
  • Ie ni tsuitara, denwa shite kudasai. (Once/When you arrive home, please call me.)
• Structure: Past tense form + ra.
  • Taberu $\to$ Tabeta $\to$ Tabetara

2. ~nara (なら)

Key Concept: “If that is the case” / “Speaking of…”

~nara is used to provide advice, suggestions, or opinions based on information provided by the listener or the current context. Unlike ~tara, the timing of the result can happen before the condition.

• Contextual “If”: Used when the speaker picks up a topic mentioned by someone else.
  • Person A: “I want to buy a camera.”
  • Person B: Kamera o kau nara, Akihabara ga ii desu yo. (If you are going to buy a camera [if that is what you want], Akihabara is good.)
• No Time Sequence: The action in the second part often happens before or at the same time as the first part.
  • Nihon ni iku nara, pasu-poto ga hitsuyo desu. (If you are going to Japan, you need a passport.) Note: You need the passport before you go.
• Structure: Dictionary form + nara.
  • Iku $\to$ Iku nara

Key Differences Comparison

Summary Rule of Thumb

• Use ~tara when you want to say “If/When A happens, then B.”
• Use ~nara when you want to say “If what you said is true/If that is the topic, then B.”