hypothetical form; conditional form
In modern Japanese grammar, the form of verbs and adjectives that ends in 〜ば, used to express conditions. Contrast with 已然形, the classical realis form.
See also: 已然形 (いぜんけい)
The 'ike' in 'ikeba' is the hypothetical form.
仮定形に「ば」を付けると条件を表します。
Attaching 'ba' to the hypothetical form expresses a condition.
Compound of 仮定 (katei, 'hypothesis') and 形 (kei, 'form'), a modern grammatical term.