と as “If”
You learned たら before, but this is a little bit different, though essentially the same in a lot of ways. First you should look at the patterns and rules that surround と as “if.”
v.dict + と
i.adj + と
na.adj + だ + と
noun + だ + と
So, if we take a look at these rules with actual examples…
さちこさん と はなす と ＿＿＿＿＿＿ If you talk with Sachiko ….
ゲーム が たかい と ＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿ If the game is expensive….
きれい だ と ＿＿＿＿＿＿＿ If (something) is pretty ….
がくせい だ と ＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿ If (he/she/someone) is a student ….
After the …. you can say almost whatever you want about these, though there are a couple of rules about と to know. Firstly, the first part of the sentence (the part before the と) has to be present/future tense. It cannot be past tense. If this is the case, you should be using たら. Also, the part after the と cannot be a command. As in, you couldn’t say “if the flower is pretty cut it for me.” In this case, you’d also use たら instead. You’re just able to make statements about things – not tell someone what to do about the first thing you say.
えいが を みる と わかる If you watch the movie you will understand
こばやしさん だ と ホットドッグ を たくさん たべます If it’s Kobayashi (he) will eat a lot of hot dogs
本 は おもしろい と よみやすい です If the book is interesting it is easy to read
It’s a lot like たら in a lot of ways, minus those couple of rules (which are pretty important to remember – make sure you take note). We’re going to now practice all the different と stuff you just learned and read about, all at once. The goal will be to get you to the point where you can differentiate between the different と sentences as well as translate them. Ready for a bunch of と?