とすれば / としたら / とすると | Grammar

Structure

[verb (plain)] + とすれば / としたら / とすると [i-adj] + とすれば / としたら / とすると [na-adj] + だ + とすれば / としたら / とすると [noun] + だ + とすれば / としたら / とすると

Description

とすれば, としたら and とすると mean "supposing that…", "if it is the case that…": you take something as a premise and say what follows from it. They are the quotation と plus する in its three conditional forms, and follow the plain form of a verb or an い-adjective; a noun or a な-adjective takes だ first.

、。

Supposing you won the lottery, what would you do?

、。

If he isn't coming, the plan has to change.

、。

If this story is true, we're in serious trouble.

、。

If he is the culprit, what was the motive?

In writing, だ after a noun is often dropped: ひとり一人ごせんえん5000円とすれば.

Which of the three

All three can usually stand in for each other. The differences are of tone.

is the most conversational, and the one for imagining: "if you could…", "if I were…". often comes first.

、。

If you could start over, what would you do?

、。

If I were the boss, I'd give everyone more days off.

sounds reasoned, the premise of a calculation or an argument.

、。

At 5,000 yen a head, that's 20,000 yen in all.

draws a conclusion from something just learned: "if that's so, then…".

、。

If the trains have stopped, the only way is by bus.

としたら or たら

Plain たら states a condition that may well come true. としたら makes it a supposition, something you are not sure of or that is unlikely.

、。

If it rains, the match is off.

、。

If it does rain tomorrow, the match might be called off.

Usage notes

These go beyond the conditional after a clause.

At the start of a sentence

and can open a sentence and refer back to what was just said: "in that case".

。、。

The meeting starts at three. In that case, we have time for lunch.

Examples

、。

If his story is true, we should think of countermeasures immediately.

、。

If you were to study abroad, which country would you want to go to?

、。

If we're moving next month, we need to start preparing now.

はち8、。

Assuming we work 8 hours a day, this project will be finished in one week.

、。

If I were the company president, I would increase the number of days off.

、。

If she's not going to participate, who will give the presentation?

、。

If this medicine doesn't work, we have no choice but to try another method.

、。

If you could receive one million yen, what would you spend it on?

、。

If the criminal entered this room, I wonder where they got in from.

、。

If you were to quit your current job, what would you want to do next?

、。

If that shop is closed, let's go to the café next door.

、。

If it rains tomorrow, the game might be canceled.

References

としたら-とすれば-とするとBunpro