JLPT N4 grammar
〜ば (conditional) — Meaning & Examples
Hypothetical "if". Group 1: え-row + ば (のめば, nomeba). い-adj: ければ (安ければ, yasukereba). する→すれば (sureba). Best for general truths and conditions.
〜ば — Hypothetical "If"
〜ば expresses a hypothetical or general condition — "if A (is true), then B." It often feels like "if (and only if)."
How to make the ば-form:
• Group 1: change the final う-row to え-row + ば
のむ → のめば、いく → いけば、ある → あれば (nomu → nomeba, iku → ikeba, aru → areba)
• Group 2: drop る, add れば
たべる → たべれば、見る → 見れば (taberu → tabereba, miru → mireba)
• い-adjectives: drop い, add ければ
安い → 安ければ (yasui → yasukereba)
• Irregular: する → すれば、くる → くれば (suru → sureba, kuru → kureba)
Examples:
お金があれば、車を買います。(okane ga areba, kuruma o kaimasu.)
= If I have money, I'll buy a car.
安ければ買います。(yasukereba kaimasu.)
= If it's cheap, I'll buy it.
この薬を飲めば、よくなりますよ。(kono kusuri o nomeba, yoku narimasu yo.)
= If you take this medicine, you'll get better.
Tip: ば is great for general truths and conditions. With action verbs, if the main clause is a command or intention, たら usually sounds more natural.
Practise 〜ば (conditional) in the free app
This point is part of the “The Four Conditionals — と・ば・たら・なら” lesson in A Star Japanese. Study it with examples, a quiz, flashcards and timed JLPT N4 mock exams. Free on iPhone and Android.
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Related N4 grammar points
From the same lesson: The Four Conditionals — と・ば・たら・なら
Frequently asked questions
What does 〜ば (conditional) mean?
Hypothetical "if". Group 1: え-row + ば (のめば, nomeba). い-adj: ければ (安ければ, yasukereba). する→すれば (sureba). Best for general truths and conditions.
Is 〜ば (conditional) on the JLPT N4 test?
〜ば (conditional) is taught in the JLPT N4 grammar course in A Star Japanese (lesson “The Four Conditionals — と・ば・たら・なら”), so it is a pattern learners at this level are expected to recognise. The JLPT does not publish an official grammar list, so treat this as a study guide rather than an official requirement.
How can I practise 〜ば (conditional)?
Open the “The Four Conditionals — と・ば・たら・なら” lesson in the free A Star Japanese app for iPhone and Android. It has examples, a quiz after every lesson, flashcards with spaced repetition and timed JLPT N4 mock exams, with no ads.