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The izenkei conjugation has only one function in modern Japanese.
Combined with + ば (ba) it is one of several conditional
forms, translated as "if" or "when". The
izenkei + ば (ba) is used when there is a logical cause and effect
relation.
The izenkei + ば (ba) can also be used to describe an observation
or conclusion. In this case it can be translated as "Now that
I..." (often encountered as ren'youkei + てみれば (te mireba)),
as "when" or "while", describing a coincidence
or one-off occurance (used as とき (toki)), or as "and then"
when actions are performed by the same grammatical subject.
The izenkei + ば is never found at the end of a sentence. It always
ends the conditional clause, followed by the main clause.
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高かければ買えない。 (Takakereba
kaenai.)
If it's expensive I can't buy it.
説明を読んでみればすぐ分かります。 (Setsumei wo yonde mireba
sugu wakarimasu.)
When you've read the instructions you will understand.
どうすればいいでしょうか (Dou sureba
ii deshou ka.)
What would be the best way to do this? (Literally: If I do
it how, will it be ok?) |
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だ (da)
The verb だ (da) doesn't have an izenkei conjugation, it is therefore
not possible to contract である (de aru) into だ (da).
| Present tense |
Conditional form |
| ある |
aru |
あれば |
areba |
| である |
de aru |
であれば |
de areba |
| だ |
da |
であれば |
de areba |
| です |
desu |
であれば |
de areba |
Izenkei + ばならない (ba naranai) / + ばいけない (ba
ikenai)
Special combinations are the izenkei + ばならない (ba naranai) or the
izenkei + ばいけない (ba ikenai). These combinations form a prohibitive,
and are translated as "mustn't". When using the double
negatives mizenkei + なければならない (nakereba naranai) or mizenkei + なければ行けない
(nakereba ikenai) these combinations form an imperative,
and are translated as "must" or "have to".
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そのような本を読めば行けない。 (Sono you na hon wo yomeba
ikenai.)
You mustn't read a book like that.
すぐ行かなければならない。 (Sugu ikanakereba
naranai.)
I must leave soon. |
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Related pages:
Rentaikei
+ と (to)
Rentaikei
+ なら (nara)
Ren'youkei
+ たら (tara)
Ren'youkei
+ て (te)
Conditional
forms
Imperative
forms
prohibitive
forms |
