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Kotomora
JLPT N2ConversationalIn a reply

それならin that case; then

You take what you have just learned as given and say what you will do or suggest: "in that case", "then". Mostly it answers something the other person said.

How to form it

What you have just learned。 それなら、+ what you will do or suggest

Friends often say だったら. Staff speaking to a customer say それでしたら or でしたら.

After it
A suggestion, a decision, an offer or advice. Now and then, what the news lets you conclude: それなら、大だい丈じょう夫ぶですね.
Where you'll meet it
Conversation, polite or casual. In writing, mostly dialogue.

In use

だったら, それでしたら

A customer and a salesclerk.

それならよかった

Once a worry is cleared up, people say それならよかった: "oh, good".

Close neighbours

じゃあ・ではN5

Lighter, and it does more: it also starts things off and opens a goodbye. それなら needs news to answer.

ならN4

The same word on the end of a noun or a clause: you say again the part you are answering. それ stands for all of it.

そしたらN3

Casual. In a reply it is a light "then". Telling a story it is "and then", which それなら never is.

それなのにN2

"And yet": what happened clashes with what should have followed, and you say it as a complaint or in disbelief.

それにしてもN2

"Even so", "still": you grant what was just said, and this is still more than you expected.

Check yourself

1Which one fits B's reply?

A「この道みちは工こう事じ中ちゅうで通とおれません。」 B「(  )、川かわ沿ぞいの道みちを行いきます。」

Choose an answer to see why.

2Nobody has said anything yet. The teacher walks in and begins the class. Which one fits?

(  )、授じゅ業ぎょうを始はじめます。

Choose an answer to see why.

More detail

それならそうと

それならそうと言いってよ is "you should have said so".

それなら見みたよ

When それ is a thing just named, なら takes it up: "that one".