としたら・
You suppose something for the moment and reason from it: "supposing we go, when?", "if that's true, then…". It may be undecided, unknown or plainly untrue.
If we were to go to Kyoto, when would be good?
Assuming these figures are correct, the budget is still two million yen short.
How to form it
Plain form + としたら／とすれば／とすると
A noun or a な-adjective usually keeps だ: 本当だとしたら. もし or 仮に, "just supposing", can open the sentence.
- Before it
- Something you only suppose, not something that is simply going to happen.
- After it
- What you make of it: a conclusion, a guess, a question, a sum.
- Where you'll meet it
- Talk about plans and what-ifs, meetings, detective stories, news analysis.
In use
If he really did not know, that reaction is understandable too.
If we assume the window was broken from the inside, it follows that the culprit was inside the building.
If we assume everyone will attend, we should reserve a larger venue.
だとすると, だとしたら and だとすれば can open a reply by themselves: "if that's so, then…".
I hear the manager is away on business next week.
If so, the meeting will have to be put off.
Which of the three?
They differ much as たら, ば and と do. としたら is the everyday one and the safe choice: a question, a wish or a plan can follow it. とすると is for what follows by itself, a conclusion or a sum, so like と it is not the one for a request, an invitation or a plan. とすれば is the careful one, for reasoning and writing.
If I were to buy a car, I think I'd get a small one.
A plan. としたら takes it.
Sounds odd: 車を
If I were to buy a car, I think I'd get a small one.
Odd. とすると doesn't sit well before a plan.
If I were to buy a car, I'd need a parking space too.
What follows by itself.
Close neighbours
ならN4
Takes up what was just said or supposed as it stands: you're going, so here is my advice. としたら says outright that it is only a supposition.
If you're going to Hokkaido, I recommend a hotel near the sea.
"If it really comes to that": the thing looks set to happen, and you turn to what it will mean in practice.
If the branch really is to be closed, we will have to notify its users quickly.
Check yourself
1Which one fits?
もし花火を
Choose an answer to see why.
2Which one fits?
朝に
Choose an answer to see why.
More sentences
Supposing you were given a million yen, what would you spend it on?
If that story is true, why was it not made public until now?
Suppose the sea level rose by one meter: this area would be affected too.
Assuming there are fifty participants, we need to get ten more chairs ready.
It's hard to imagine in real life, but if people could live to 150, the way we work would change a great deal too.