Posted inN3 Grammar

Assuming/Supposing…: Mastering とすれば・としたら・とすると (JLPT N3 Grammar)

Posted inN3 Grammar
Japanese Grammar Template
Meaning & Usage

✨ Basic Meaning

To assume, to suppose, if it is the case that…, granted that…

🎯 Primary Function

Used to state a hypothetical condition or make an assumption, and then express a conclusion, judgment, or question based on that condition or assumption. It often implies that the assumed condition is not necessarily true, but is being considered for the sake of argument, calculation, or discussion.

📋 Grammar Structure

Plain form of Verb / い-adjective / な-adjective + とすれば・としたら・とすると Noun + だ + とすれば・としたら・とすると (For とすると, だ can sometimes be omitted with Nouns: Noun + とすると)

🎭 Usage Contexts

🏢 Formal Situations

Frequently used in formal discussions, reports, academic papers, and logical arguments.

😊 Informal Situations

Less common in casual conversation compared to other conditional forms like たら or なら, but can be used in more serious or analytical discussions.

✍️ Written Language

Commonly found in written materials such as essays, articles, reports, and official documents.

🗣️ Spoken Language

Used in spoken language when engaging in logical reasoning, planning, discussing possibilities, or solving problems.

💡 Common Applications

Calculating or predicting outcomes based on a hypothetical situation.
Imagine a scenario and discuss its potential results.
Example: もしこの計画が失敗するとすれば、次の手は何ですか？ (Moshi kono keikaku ga shippai suru to sureba, tsugi no te wa nan desu ka?) – If this plan were to fail, what would be the next step?
Logical deduction or drawing conclusions from a premise.
If we assume X is true, then what must Y be?
Example: 彼が正直者だとしたら、なぜそんな嘘をついたのだろう？ (Kare ga shōjikimono da to shitara, naze sonna uso o tsuita no darō?) – If he is an honest person, why would he tell such a lie?
Considering possibilities or alternative scenarios.
Discussing “what if” situations.
Example: あなたがその立場だとすると、どう判断しますか？ (Anata ga sono tachiba da to suru to, dō handan shimasu ka?) – If you were in that position, how would you judge it?
📊
Frequency
Moderately frequent, particularly in analytical, planning, or speculative contexts.
🎚️
Difficulty
Intermediate (Appropriate for JLPT N3 learners as a pattern to recognize and start using).
Example Sentences
もし明日晴れるとすれば、ピクニックに行きましょう。
If it’s sunny tomorrow, let’s go for a picnic.
彼女が来ないとすると、会議は延期しなければならない。
If she doesn’t come, we will have to postpone the meeting.
あなたが彼だとしたら、どう感じますか？
If you were him, how would you feel?
Notes & Nuances

📌 Important Points

Often preceded by もし (moshi).
Adding もし emphasizes the hypothetical or assumed nature of the condition.
Example: もしあなたが時間があるとしたら、手伝ってもらえませんか？ (Moshi anata ga jikan ga aru to shitara, tetsudatte moraemasen ka?) – If you have time, could you help me?
Expresses a premise for a conclusion or judgment.
The focus is on the result or question that arises *assuming* the condition is met.
Example: 費用が１０万円かかるとすれば、予算オーバーです。 (Hiyō ga jūman-en kakaru to sureba, yosan ōbā desu.) – If the cost is 100,000 yen, that’s over budget.

⚠️ Common Mistakes

❌ Using it for simple, everyday conditional statements where たら or なら would be more natural.
✅ Use とすれば・としたら・とすると for scenarios where you are specifically setting up a premise or assumption for logical deduction, calculation, or exploring a specific possibility.
For a simple condition like “If it rains, I won’t go out,” 「雨が降ったら、出かけません。」 (Ame ga futtara, dekakemasen.) is much more common and natural than using とすれば/としたら/とすると.
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🏛️ Cultural Context

Politeness Level: Generally falls in the mid-to-higher range of formality, especially とすれば and とすると.
Social Situations: Used in situations requiring clear, structured thinking and discussion, such as business negotiations, academic presentations, or legal arguments.
Regional Variations: Standard Japanese grammar, used nationwide.

🔍 Subtle Differences

とすれば vs. としたら vs. とすると
とすると often emphasizes the logical consequence or conclusion drawn from the premise. とすれば is similar but can also focus on the action or plan based on the assumption. としたら is slightly more flexible and can sometimes be used in hypothetical past situations, closer to the nuance of たら, but still carries the sense of “assuming that case.”
When to use: Use とすると when deriving a logical conclusion. Use とすれば when planning or deciding based on an assumption. Use としたら for more general hypothetical scenarios or when considering possibilities, often interchangeable with とすれば/とすると but sometimes feeling slightly less formal or strictly logical.
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📝 Conjugation Notes

Attaches to the plain form (辞書形, た形, ない形, Noun+だ, な-adjective+だ, い-adjective). Remember to include だ for Nouns and な-adjectives in the plain form before connecting.

🔊 Pronunciation Tips

The pronunciation is straightforward following standard Japanese phonetics. Pay attention to the slight pause before とすれば/としたら/とすると.

🧠 Memory Tips

Think of them as variations of “if we suppose/assume [X], then [Y]”. The と particle marks the condition/premise.

Practice Exercises
もし明日雨（＿＿＿）、ピクニックは中止になるでしょう。
とすれば
とします
としました
としている
あなたが責任者だ（＿＿＿）、この状況をどう改善しますか？
としました
としたら
としています
とするところだ
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