How to use “when” in Japanese or -tara form

This form very useful and commonly use by the Japanese. The examples below will show you how to change from the plain verb to -tara forms

たべる(to eat) becomes たべたら(when you eat)

はなす(to speak) becomes はなしたら(when you speak)

あるく(to walk) becomes あるいたら(when you walk)

およぐ(to swim) becomes およいだら(when you swim)

よぶ(to call) becomes よんだら(when you call it)

のむ(to drink) becomes のんだら(when you drink it)

しぬ(to die) becomes しんだら(when you die)

つくる(to make) becomes つくったら(when you make)

まつ(to wait) becomes まったら(when you wait)

あらう(to wash) becomes あらったら(when you wash)

The above examples are plain verbs. Just by changing each verb into a た-ta form and then adding a ら ra after it.

To change it to a negative form

たべる becomes たべない negative plain form becomes たべなかったら (if you did not eat)

Just drop the い on the ない form and then change it to -kattara　かったら In this case, because of the negative form is involve here. The meaning becomes “If you didn’t…”

のむ becomes のまない and then becomes のまなかったら meaning “If you didn’t drink it…”

To change to a polite -tara form

If you want to say it in a polite way, just change each verb into the past -masu form and add the ら ra after it. An example below will show you how.

たべる becomes たべましたThis is the polite past form. Then add the ら ra it, you get たべましたら. This way of saying is very polite, usually use wen you are speaking with customers.

To change to a polite negative -tara form

たべる becomes たべません and then becomes たべません　でしたら

のむ becomes のみません and then becomes のみません　でしたら

You have to change the -masu　into a past tense. By adding the でした you get the past tense. Then adding the ら after it will give you the polite negative -tara form.

Well, I hardly hear Japanese use the polite negative -tara form while I was in Japan, its probably use in hotels or high class restaurant.  Its recommended to use the plain negative form or plain form when you want to use -tara

It might take some time for you to absorb all these. Getting use to learning Japanese forms is the key to improving your listening and speaking. Try to get use to the -nakattara and -nakatta soundings.

Enjoy learning Japanese!