There are a few different ways to express “if” in Japanese.

Conditionals are one of the most frequently used expression without doubt.

The most conditional expressions translate to the same in English but are not always used in the same situations in Japanese.

[Unnatural sentence]

 

おさけを飲むなら、頭が痛くなるんです。

-おさけをのむなら、あたまがいたくなるんです。

-I get a headache when I drink alcohol.

 

Can you find a mistake?

 

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[Sensei’s correction]

 

おさけを飲むなら、頭が痛くなるんです。

→おさけを飲むと、頭が痛くなるんです。

→おさけを飲んだら、頭が痛くなるんです。

 

おさけを飲むなら→ ◎おさけを飲むと/飲んだら

 

〜なら is used for the speaker’s advice.

Also, it doesn’t give temporal order, so the sentence may be…

おさけを飲む前に頭が痛くなる。(I get a headache before I drink alcohol.)

 

If you want to say you get a headache after drinking alcohol,

use と or たら.

〜と、（いつも）〜

＝そのとき、いつもそうなる（Constant result）

 

〜たら、〜

＝[条件(じょうけん) condition]たら、(One-time result)

 

But not ば.

おさけを飲めば means you only get a headache after drinking alcohol.

And what you’re trying to say with 〜ば is,

“どうすれば頭が痛くなる？(How can you get a headache?) ”

“おさけを飲めば！(If you drink!) ”

 

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Did my explanation enhance your understanding?

 

You should know how to use conditional expressions at all levels.

Now, you have strengthened your Japanese by reviewing it in my video.

 

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