Whenever, automatically: 〜と
Dictionary form／ない + と
Dictionary／ない + と: an automatic consequence (machines, nature, directions, habits). Never a wish, order or invitation after it. In the past: a discovery.
In short
After the dictionary form, と expresses an automatic consequence: whenever A, then B, inevitably. この ボタンを おすと、ドアが 開きます (when you press this button, the door opens), 春に なると、さくらが さく. It's the conditional of instructions, natural laws and directions. The second part is never a wish, an order or an invitation.
- この ボタンを おすと、ドアが 開きます。この ボタンを おすと、ドアが あきます。When you press this button, the door opens.
- 春に なると、さくらが さきます。はるに なると、さくらが さきます。When spring comes, the cherry trees blossom.
- 右に 曲がると、駅が あります。みぎに まがると、えきが あります。If you turn right, you'll see the station.
- 家に 帰ると、ねこが 待って いた。いえに かえると、ねこが まって いた。When I got home, the cat was waiting for me.
The basics
With と, the second part follows automatically from the first, without anyone deciding anything: that's just how it works. It's used for a machine, nature, directions, a habit, a mechanism — much like English “whenever” or the “if/when” of instructions.
When you press this button, the door opens.
- noun
- verb
- particle
- お酒を 飲むと、かおが 赤く なります。おさけを のむと、かおが あかく なります。Whenever I drink alcohol, my face goes red.
- この 道を まっすぐ 行くと、つうてんかくが 見えます。この みちを まっすぐ いくと、つうてんかくが みえます。If you go straight down this street, you'll see Tsūtenkaku Tower.
How to form it
Dictionary form or ない-form, + と. Never the た-form, even when talking about the past: the tense is read at the end of the sentence. For an adjective or a noun: 高いと, 静かだと, 雨だと.
| Type | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| verb | おすと | when you press |
| negative verb | おさないと | if you don't press |
| い-adjective | 寒いと | when it's cold |
| な-adjective / noun | 雨だと | when it rains |
- 早く 行かないと、遅れますよ。はやく いかないと、おくれますよ。If you don't leave early, you'll be late.
- 雨だと、道が 込みます。あめだと、みちが こみます。When it rains, the roads get busy.
What と can't do
Since the consequence is automatic, the second part can't be a wish (〜たい, 〜つもり, volitional), an order, a request (〜て ください) or an invitation (〜ませんか). In those cases, use たら.
| Wrong | Correct |
|---|---|
| 日本に 行くと、すしを 食べたい | 日本に 行ったら、すしを 食べたい |
| 駅に 着くと、電話して ください | 駅に 着いたら、電話して ください |
| ひまだと、遊びに 来ませんか | ひまだったら、遊びに 来ませんか |
- 大阪に 着いたら、れんらくします。おおさかに ついたら、れんらくします。I'll let you know when I get to Osaka.
In the past: a discovery
When the sentence ends in the past, と tells what you discovered right after an action, a bit like たら: 家に 帰ると、ねこが 待って いた. This と is slightly more literary; you find it a lot in stories.
Watch out for the three と: “and” between two nouns (パンと ぎゅうにゅう), quotation (〜と 言う), and here, the condition after a verb.
- 外に 出ると、雪が 降って いた。そとに でると、ゆきが ふって いた。When I went outside, it was snowing.
Common mistakes
- Putting a wish or a request after と: “日本に 行くと、すしを 食べたい” is wrong; it's 行ったら.
- Using the た-form before と: “おしたと” is wrong; say おすと, even in the past.
- Mixing up this と with と meaning “and” (between nouns) and the quotation と (〜と 言う).
8 exercises on this point
Particles to choose, sentences to put back in order, translations: marked straight away, then reviewed at the right time. This JLPT N4 point is on the Chūō Line (Travelling) of the Osaka subway.