～なら
if / as for
～なら is a conditional that takes a situation already on the table, often something the listener just said, and adds the speaker’s comment, advice, or judgment about it. It attaches to the plain form of a verb or adjective, or directly to a noun.
In English it covers both “if (you’re going to / it’s true that)” and the topic-like “as for ..., (then) ...”.
1. Responding to a supposition
Use ～なら to react to a plan or situation you have just heard about.
日本へ行くなら、京都がおすすめだ。
“If you’re going to Japan, I recommend Kyoto.”
- 日本（にほん）= Japan
- へ = direction marker (to)
- 行く（いく）= to go
- なら = if (that’s the case)
- 京都（きょうと）= Kyoto
- が = subject marker
- おすすめ = recommendation
- だ = is (plain copula)
2. Picking up a topic: “as for ...”
After a noun, なら singles out that topic and offers relevant information, much like “if it’s ... you mean”.
寿司なら、あの店が一番おいしい。
“If it’s sushi, that restaurant is the best.”
- 寿司（すし）= sushi
- なら = as for / if it’s
- あの = that (over there)
- 店（みせ）= shop, restaurant
- が = subject marker
- 一番（いちばん）= the most, number one
- おいしい = delicious
How to form it
Plain form / Noun + なら (no だ after a noun)
- 行く（いく）= to go → 行くなら（いくなら）= if you’re going
- 寒い（さむい）= cold → 寒いなら（さむいなら）= if you’re cold
- 寿司（すし）= sushi → 寿司なら（すしなら）= if it’s sushi
Key idea
～なら means “given that situation, here is my take”. It accepts information as a premise and builds advice or a comment on top of it.
Other N3 grammar
Updated .