Ifs and hopes

Conjugations, Stage 3chunk 5 of 5Grammar patterns

Suppose things, set conditions and limits, and hope out loud.

• -to shitaraif; supposing; if it's true that
• -to iiI hope; it would be good if
• -kagirias long as; as far as
• -shidaidepending on; as soon as
• -sae arebaas long as there's; all you need is

Mix-ups -to ii (I hope) vs -tara ii (you should); sae areba (as long as) vs de sae (even).

-to shitara

〜としたら

if; supposing; if it's true that

For a pure hypothetical or something you just learned; often moshi ... to shitara.

Make it plain form + to shitara

To sureba and to suru to mean the same. 'da to shitara' = if that's the case.

casualPlay

moshi takarakuji atatta to shitara, nani suru?

Say you won the lottery, what would you do?

もし宝くじ当たったとしたら、何する？

politePlay

moshi takarakuji ni atatta to shitara, nani o shimasu ka

Supposing you won the lottery, what would you do?

もし宝くじに当たったとしたら、何をしますか

Rank #825 in 3,030 TV dramas

-to ii

〜といい

I hope; it would be good if

Mostly -to ii ne to wish someone well, or -to ii na for your own hope.

Make it dictionary or -nai form + to ii

Polite -to ii desu

Same idea as -tara ii na. As advice it means 'it's best to': 'kono kusuri nomu to ii yo'.

casualPlay

ashita hareru to ii ne

Hope it's sunny tomorrow.

明日晴れるといいね

politePlay

ashita hareru to ii desu ne

I hope it's sunny tomorrow.

明日晴れるといいですね

Rank #3058 in 3,030 TV dramas

-kagiri

〜限り

as long as; as far as

Sets a condition or limit: 'as long as I'm here', 'as far as I know'.

Make it dictionary, -nai or -te iru form + kagiri

'dekiru kagiri' = as much as possible. 'kyou kagiri' = today only, on sale signs.

casualPlay

watashi no shitteru kagiri, kare wa dokushin da yo

As far as I know, he's single.

私の知ってる限り、彼は独身だよ

politePlay

watashi no shitte iru kagiri, kare wa dokushin desu

As far as I know, he isn't married.

私の知っている限り、彼は独身です

Rank #1890 in 3,030 TV dramas

-shidai

〜次第

depending on; as soon as

After a noun it means 'it's up to'; after a -masu stem, 'as soon as', a polite promise at work.

Make it noun + shidai (da); -masu stem + shidai

'anata shidai' = it's up to you. 'wakari shidai gorenraku shimasu' (I'll contact you as soon as I know) is a set business line.

casualPlay

iku ka dou ka wa tenki shidai da ne

Whether we go depends on the weather.

行くかどうかは天気次第だね

politePlay

iku ka dou ka wa tenki shidai desu ne

Whether we go will depend on the weather.

行くかどうかは天気次第ですね

Rank #1911 in 3,030 TV dramas

-sae areba

〜さえあれば

as long as there's; all you need is

Says one thing is all it takes; the general shape is X sae + a -ba form, and areba is the common one.

Make it noun + sae + -ba form (areba, ireba, yokereba)

'kimi sae yokereba' = if it's okay with you. Don't mix with de sae, 'even'.

casualPlay

sumaho sae areba daijoubu

As long as I've got my phone, I'm fine.

スマホさえあれば大丈夫

politePlay

sumaho sae areba daijoubu desu

As long as I have my phone, I'll be fine.

スマホさえあれば大丈夫です

Rank #4486 in 3,030 TV dramas