ば

Particle

ば

Function

Conditional 'if'

Level

N4

How it works

Attaches to the conditional form of verbs and adjectives to express a condition: if A, then B.

Example

Jikan ga areba, eiga o mi ni ikimasu. If I have time, I will go to watch a movie.

Versus

たら (tara) can also mean 'if', but ば (ba) is more theoretical and cannot be used for past completed actions.

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