conditional N3 common casualpolitewritten
もしも〜なら — if (it's the case that)
もしも〜なら ・ もしもなら
Builds on なら
Meaning
- if (it's the case that) ~ — もしも emphasis on a なら conditional, which takes up a premise that's been raised or assumed
Key sentence
もしも本当なら、大変なことだ。
If that's really true, it's a serious matter.
Formation
| Attaches to | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| もしも + clause + なら | もしも 〜 なら | もしも私があなたなら (if I were you) |
Examples
もしも明日晴れなら、ピクニックに行こう。
If it's sunny tomorrow, let's go on a picnic.
もしも嫌なら、無理しなくていい。
If you don't want to, you don't have to force yourself.
Easily confused with
もしも〜たら Both are emphatic 'if,' but なら picks up an established premise or what was just said ('if that's the case…') and lets the main clause come first in time; たら frames an event-then-result sequence ('once/when X happens, then Y'). なら もしも just adds dramatic 'supposing ever…' weight on top of plain なら — the conditional work is still done by なら, which responds to a given topic or supposition.
Notes
- なら answers what's just been said or assumed, so もしも〜なら often heightens an unlikely or hypothetical premise the speaker is entertaining.
See もしも〜なら in real sentences
Jengo shows もしも〜なら the way you actually meet it: inside real Japanese sentences, so it sticks instead of staying an abstract rule.
Study it in JengoSources Compiled from published Japanese grammar references.