connective N3 common casualpolitewritten
とすると — assuming that
とすると
Meaning
- assuming that ~ / if we suppose ~ then — reasons forward from a hypothesis to its logical consequence
Key sentence
彼が犯人だとすると、動機は何だろう。
If he's the culprit, then what's the motive?
Formation
| Attaches to | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun (+だ) or plain clause | N + だとすると; Clause(plain) + とすると | 本当だとすると / 全員来るとすると |
Variants
とすれば — same 'assuming that' meaning, ば-based; slightly more formal. としたら — same meaning, たら-based; a touch more conversational and hypothetical.
Examples
この計算が正しいとすると、予算が足りない。
Assuming this calculation is right, the budget falls short.
終電が十二時だとすると、もう出なければ。
If the last train is at twelve, we'd better leave now.
Easily confused with
〜とする とする sets the premise ('suppose ~'). とすると carries it into a conclusion — 'given that premise, then…'. なら なら takes up something just raised and gives advice or a stance ('if it's coffee, the café next door is good'). とすると reasons coolly from a hypothesis toward its consequence, often in calculation or deduction.
See とすると in real sentences
Jengo shows とすると the way you actually meet it: inside real Japanese sentences, so it sticks instead of staying an abstract rule.
Study it in JengoSources Compiled with reference to A Dictionary of Intermediate Japanese Grammar.