Grammar Point
conjunction
conj 
particle
prt 
たら

if, when, after

Verb た form + ら

The conjunction ~たら is used to indicate that one action or state occurs after another. It can express a conditional 'if' or a temporal 'when/after'. The main clause happens as a result of or subsequent to the condition in the ~たら clause.

Verb

Add ら to the past informal form (た form) of a verb.

If I drink water, I will feel better.

When I arrive at the station, I will call.

Note

When ~たら is used to mean 'when' or 'after', the event in the first clause must happen before the event in the second clause. In the case of 'if', the second clause represents what happens assuming the first clause is true. Note that the 'ta' in 'tara' follows the same conjugation rules as the plain past tense of verbs.

Adjective + ら

This formation is used to express a condition or a situation involving an adjective's state. It translates to 'if it is [adjective]' or 'when it becomes [adjective]'.

い-Adjective

Replace the final い with かったら.

If it is expensive, I will not buy it.

If it is cold, let's go home.

な-Adjective / Noun

Add だったら to the noun or the stem of a な-adjective.

If it is quiet, I will study.

Note

For い-adjectives, the final い is replaced with かった before adding ら. For な-adjectives, the stem is followed by だったら.

Words: 
たら
ったら
Radicals of radicals