たら (tara)

Meaning & usage

たら attaches to the past (ta) form of verbs and i-adjectives, and to nouns or na-adjectives with だった, to make a conditional meaning 'if' or 'when'. It works in both casual and polite speech, and can also appear in wishes or counterfactual statements.

Example sentences 8

1. よく聞きいたら、ネタじゃなくてマジボケだったみたいです。

   When I asked afterwards it seems he hadn't said that as a joke.

2. 何か私にできることがありましたらお知らせ下さい。

   Let me know if there is anything I can do.

3. 10ヶ国語を話せたらどんなにかっこいいだろう！

   It would be so cool if I could speak ten languages!

4. 車？ああ・・・あのリムジンでしたら、私がチャーターした物ですわ。

   Car? Ah, if you mean that limousine, - I chartered it.

5. そうしたらひとつ問題があって・・・。

   Then there is a problem...

6. テレビがなかったら生きていけないよ。

   I can't live without a TV.

7. もう何をしたらいいか分からない。

   I don't know what to do anymore.

8. 何と言ったらいいか・・・。

   I just don't know what to say.