もしも～たら

もしも～たら is a conditional expression used to present hypothetical or imaginary situations. It combines the adverb もしも ("if," "supposing") with the たら conditional form to emphasize that the situation being described is uncertain, unlikely, or purely imagined.

もしも vs. もし

Both もし and もしも can be used before たら to mark a hypothetical condition, but もしも is more emphatic. It draws stronger attention to the hypothetical nature of the scenario, making it particularly common when discussing counterfactual situations, dreams, or unlikely events.

Usage notes

The clause after たら states what would happen or what one would do if the hypothetical condition were met. もしも always appears before the conditional clause and signals to the listener that a supposition is coming.

もしも～たら is natural in both casual and polite speech. It is used in everyday conversation as well as in more reflective or imaginative contexts, such as asking "What would you do if…?"

Common patterns

• もしも～たら、どうする？ – What would you do if…?
• もしも～たら、～たい – If … happened, I'd want to …
• もしも～たら、～のに – If only … (expressing regret about an unreal condition)