Introduction

The grammar pattern tara conditional is one of the most important JLPT N4 grammar points. It is used to express conditional situations, meaning when something happens, then another action happens. This grammar is very common in daily conversation and appears frequently in JLPT N4 listening and reading sections. Learners must clearly understand how tara works because it is used in many real-life situations.

This article explains tara conditional clearly in simple English for Japanese learners. All Japanese examples are written only in hiragana and katakana, with no kanji. All section titles are written in bold to make learning easier for students.

Grammar Structure Explained

verb ta form + ra + result

This grammar is used when the first action happens first, and then the second action happens after that. The first verb must always be in ta form.

Meaning in English

Tara means "if" or "when". It shows that one action happens first, and then another action follows.

When to Use This Grammar

You use tara conditional in the following situations. When talking about future conditions. When talking about past conditions. When talking about natural results. When giving advice or instructions.

Examples

ie ni kaettara yasumimasu。 when i go home, i will rest.
ame ga futtara ikimasen。 if it rains, i will not go.
shigoto ga owattara kaerimasu。 when work finishes, i will go home.
hima ni nattara denwa shimasu。 if i have free time, i will call.
nihon ni ittara nihongo o tsukaimasu。 if i go to japan, i will use japanese.

Important Grammar Notes

The first action must happen before the second action. Tara can be used for both past and future situations. This grammar is very flexible and commonly used.

Common Mistakes by Learners

Using dictionary form instead of ta form before ra. Confusing tara with other conditional forms. Using tara when the order of actions is not correct.

JLPT N4 Exam Point

In JLPT N4, tara conditional often appears in listening questions where someone explains conditions or gives advice. It also appears in reading passages such as conversations, instructions, and short explanations. Learners must understand that the first action always happens first.

Short Practice

Make sentences using tara conditional. Example: iku → ittara

Practice verbs. kaeru taberu yomu benkyou suru

Summary

Tara conditional is a core JLPT N4 grammar pattern used to express conditions. It shows that one action happens first, and then another action happens. This grammar appears very frequently in JLPT N4 listening and reading sections. Mastering tara conditional will greatly improve your understanding of conditional sentences in Japanese.

JLPT N4 Grammar tara Conditional Explained | Using tara in Japanese Conditions