- JLPT N4
と ([conditional] when; once)
NikoJLPT N4: と ([conditional] when; once)
You must be very excited... because we're looking at even more conditional phrases in this lesson.
We've seen ～たら：
- JLPT N4: ～たら (if)
- JLPT N4: ～たらいい (hope)
- JLPT N4: ～たら (after)
We've seen なら：
- JLPT N4: なら
We've seen ～ば：
JLPT N4: ～ば
- JLPT N3: ～ば...（のに）
- JLPT N4: ～ばいい (hope)
And we've seen a bit of と：
- JLPT N4: ～といい (hope)
And now we're going to look at と in even more depth...
と is used when forming conditional phrases describing inevitable results of actions.
In other words, it's like saying "If A occurs, B always occurs."
Because of this, it typically gets translated as "When A occurs, B occurs."
It is an appropriate construction to use when describing the way things work, for example:
暗くなると、たくさんの星が見えます。
くらくなる と、 たくさん の ほし が みえます。
When it gets dark, you can see a lot of stars.
Phrase A is:
暗くなる
くらくなる
it gets dark // it becomes dark
Phrase B is:
たくさんの星が見えます
たくさん の ほし が みえます
you can see a lot of stars
と means "if" or "when."
If A, necessarily B.
When A, B.
Thus:
暗くなると、たくさんの星が見えます。
くらくなる と、 たくさん の ほし が みえます。
When it gets dark, you can see a lot of stars.
Things to note:
💀 The word/phrase before と is in plain form. Here it's a VERB, but it could also be a NOUN or na-adjective followed by a plain-form ending or an i-adjective with a plain-form ending.
💀 Phrase A and B are in the present tense (e.g. 見えます [みえます], not 見えました [みえました]). This is always the case with this usage of と.
💀 It is not followed by a volitional phrase, request, etc. That is, Phrase B is not something that is happening because the speakers wills it to happen.
To illustrate that last rule, you could not say:
✕ ６月になると、ロスに遊びに来てください。
✕ ろくがつ に なる と、 ロス に あそび に きて ください。
✕ Please come and visit me in L.A. in June.
✕ Literally: “June + に + becomes + と, + Los (Angeles) + に + please come to play / hang out (=playing + に + come [and] + please).”
Instead, と is used to describe inevitable results of conditions (i.e. it describes relationships between things, how things work, etc.):
〇 ６月になると、雨が増えます。
〇 ろくがつ に なる と、 あめ が ふえます。
〇 Rain increases in June.
↑ There is an exception to this rule, however.
When we are describing a habitual action or something that is always done in a given situation, then Phrase B can be a volitional statement (something that is willed to happen). In such cases, "whenever" can be a good translation:
わたしは風邪をひくと、大量のビタミン剤を飲みます。
わたし は かぜ を ひく と、 たいりょう の ビタミンざい を のみます。
Whenever I catch a cold, I take a ton of vitamins.
But yeah, usually the speaker won't be controlling the action in Phrase B:
お酒を飲まないと、眠れません。
おさけ を のまない と、 ねむれません。
I can’t sleep unless I drink (alcohol).
↑ See how we have a negative verb conjugation before と here? Accordingly, "unless" becomes a better translation than "when."
Starting to feel comfortable with と？
If so, try taking a look at a handful of more example sentences...
寒いと、布団から出られません。
さむい と、 ふとん から でられません。
I can’t get out of bed when it’s cold.
料理が上手だと、異性にもてます。
りょうり が じょうず だ と、 いせい に もてます。
When you’re good at cooking, you're more popular with the opposite sex.
この問題は子供でないと解けません。
この もんだい は こども でない と とけません。
Only children can solve this problem.
This would be a "problem" on a test, for example.
あの橋を渡ると、交番があります。
あの はし を わたる と、 こうばん が あります。
If you cross that bridge, there’s a police box at the other side.
You can also use と in order to urge someone (including yourself) to do something.
In such cases, と follows V ない. It is common to leave Phrase B unsaid:
飲みに行く前に、宿題をしないと。
のみ に いく まえ に、 しゅくだい を しない と。
I’ve gotta do my homework before I go out (drinking).
You don't necessarily have to leave Phrase B unsaid. In this sentence, と could have been followed by things like 困る (こまる // to be troubled) or だめ (not allowed; must not).
Just stopping at と is fine, though.
Here's an example where this is being used to urge someone else to do something:
おじいちゃん、そろそろ出発しないと。遅れちゃうよ。
おじいちゃん、 そろそろ しゅっぱつ しない と。 おくれちゃう よ。
Grandpa, we need to get going. We’ll be late.
Finished!
We're far from being done with conditionals, but I'd say we're making pretty good progress...
Niko
