もしも～ならif ever; if by some chance
もし goes at the front of an "if" sentence to say early that an "if" is coming; it is optional. もしも is the same word with more weight, for something unlikely, imagined or grave.
imagining
If I were the mayor, I would turn that vacant lot into a park.
something grave
If there should be a big earthquake, get under a desk first.
How to form it
もしも + … なら／たら／ば
もしも only announces the "if". The first half still needs its own ending, usually なら, たら or ば.
- Goes with
- Whichever "if" the sentence would take anyway: なら when you suppose something is so, たら when one thing would happen and then the other.
- Tone
- Weighty: wistful, dramatic or serious. For an everyday "if", もし or nothing at all is usual.
- Where you'll meet it
- What-if questions between friends, song lyrics and titles, insurance adverts, disaster leaflets.
In use
If I could become a bird, I'd like to try flying across the sea.
If I had been born a hundred years ago, what kind of life would I have lived?
If you could take a month off, what would you want to do?
I'd like to take my time traveling around the world.
もしものとき, もしものこと
もしもの before とき or こと stands for the thing nobody wants to name: an emergency, an accident, a death.
Let's keep three days' worth of water ready in case of an emergency.
My father took out insurance with the worst in mind.
Close neighbours
ならN4
Takes up what was just said or supposed, and answers it.
If the prices are the same, I'll buy the larger one.
たらN4
The everyday "if" and "when". Plain もし in front makes it clearly "if", and that is all it does.
If it rains tomorrow, the game will probably be canceled.
Says outright that you are only supposing, so as to reason from it. もし or もしも often opens it.
Supposing you were given a million yen, what would you spend it on?
A front word too, but its partner is ても: "even if". The result doesn't change.
Even if it rains, the match will be held.
Check yourself
1Which one fits?
もしも
Choose an answer to see why.
2What does this mean?
私にもしもの
Choose an answer to see why.
3Which sentence sounds natural?
Choose an answer to see why.
More detail
万一 and 万が一, "one chance in ten thousand", do the same job in notices and business writing.
In the unlikely event of an accident, please tell a staff member at once.
More sentences
If I could see the future just once, I'd like to see myself ten years from now.
If this is my last chance, I want to go for it so that I have no regrets.
If I ever leave my current job, I want to have the next one lined up first.
If I had the money, I'd like to travel all over the world.