JLPT N4: と ([conditional] when; once)

You must be very excited... because we're looking at even more conditional phrases in this lesson.

We've seen ～たら：
- [NDL #484] - JLPT N4: ～たら (if)
- [NDL #561] - JLPT N4: ～たらいい (hope)
- [NDL #491] - JLPT N4: ～たら (after)

We've seen なら：
- [NDL #735] - JLPT N4: なら

We've seen ～ば：
[NDL #736] - JLPT N4: ～ば
- [NDL #737] - JLPT N3: ～ば...（のに）
- [NDL #567] - JLPT N4: ～ばいい (hope)

And we've seen a bit of と：
- [NDL #560] - JLPT N4: ～といい (hope)

And now we're going to look at と in even more depth...

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と is used when forming conditional phrases describing inevitable results of actions.

In other words, it's like saying "If A occurs, B always occurs."

Because of this, it typically gets translated as "When A occurs, B occurs."

It is an appropriate construction to use when describing the way things work, for example:

暗くなると、たくさんの星が見えます。
くらくなる　と、　たくさん　の　ほし　が　みえます。
When it gets dark, you can see a lot of stars.
Literally: “dark + becomes + と, + many + の + stars + が + are visible / can be seen.”

Phrase A is:

暗くなる
くらくなる
it gets dark // it becomes dark
Literally: “dark + becomes”

Phrase B is:

たくさんの星が見えます
たくさん　の　ほし　が　みえます
you can see a lot of stars
Literally: “many + の + stars + が + are visible / can be seen”

と means "if" or "when."
If A, necessarily B.
When A, B.

Thus:

暗くなると、たくさんの星が見えます。
くらくなる　と、　たくさん　の　ほし　が　みえます。
When it gets dark, you can see a lot of stars.
Literally: “dark + becomes + と, + many + の + stars + が + are visible / can be seen.”

Things to note:

💀 The word/phrase before と is in plain form. Here it's a VERB, but it could also be a NOUN or na-adjective followed by a plain-form ending or an i-adjective with a plain-form ending.

💀 Phrase A and B are in the present tense (e.g. 見えます [みえます], not 見えました [みえました]). This is always the case with this usage of と.

💀 It is not followed by a volitional phrase, request, etc. That is, Phrase B is not something that is happening because the speakers wills it to happen.

To illustrate that last rule, you could not say:

✕ ６月になると、ロスに遊びに来てください。
✕ ろくがつ　に　なる　と、　ロス　に　あそび　に　きて　ください。
✕ Please come and visit me in L.A. in June.
✕ Literally: “June + に + becomes + と, + Los (Angeles) + に + please come to play / hang out (=playing + に + come [and] + please).”

Instead, と is used to describe inevitable results of conditions (i.e. it describes relationships between things, how things work, etc.):

〇 ６月になると、雨が増えます。
〇 ろくがつ　に　なる　と、　あめ　が　ふえます。
〇 Rain increases in June.
〇 Literally: “June + に + becomes + と, + rain + が + increases.”

↑ There is an exception to this rule, however.

When we are describing a habitual action or something that is always done in a given situation, then Phrase B can be a volitional statement (something that is willed to happen). In such cases, "whenever" can be a good translation:

わたしは風邪をひくと、大量のビタミン剤を飲みます。
わたし　は　かぜ　を　ひく　と、　たいりょう　の　ビタミンざい　を　のみます。
Whenever I catch a cold, I take a ton of vitamins.
Literally: “I + は + catch a cold (=cold + を + ひく) + と, + a great deal + の + vitamin pills + を + drink.”

But yeah, usually the speaker won't be controlling the action in Phrase B:

お酒を飲まないと、眠れません。
おさけ　を　のまない　と、　ねむれません。
I can’t sleep unless I drink (alcohol).
Literally: “alcohol + を + don’t drink + と, + cannot sleep.”

↑ See how we have a negative verb conjugation before と here? Accordingly, "unless" becomes a better translation than "when."

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Starting to feel comfortable with と？

If so, try taking a look at a handful of more example sentences...

寒いと、布団から出られません。
さむい　と、　ふとん　から　でられません。
I can’t get out of bed when it’s cold.
Literally: “cold + と, + futon / bed + from + cannot exit.”

料理が上手だと、異性にもてます。
りょうり　が　じょうず　だ　と、　いせい　に　もてます。
When you’re good at cooking, you're more popular with the opposite sex.
Literally: “cooking + が + skilled + だ + と, + opposite sex + に + are well liked / are popular.”

この問題は子供でないと解けません。
この　もんだい　は　こども　でない　と　とけません。
Only children can solve this problem.
Literally: “this + problem + は + child + are not + と + cannot solve.”
Note: This would be a "problem" on a test, for example.

あの橋を渡ると、交番があります。
あの　はし　を　わたる　と、　こうばん　が　あります。
If you cross that bridge, there’s a police box at the other side.
Literally: “that + bridge + を + cross + と, + police box (=a small neighborhood police station) + が + there is.”

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You can also use と in order to urge someone (including yourself) to do something.

In such cases, と follows V ない. It is common to leave Phrase B unsaid:

飲みに行く前に、宿題をしないと。
のみ　に　いく　まえ　に、　しゅくだい　を　しない　と。
I’ve gotta do my homework before I go out (drinking).
Literally: “go to drink (=drinking + に + go) + before + に, + homework + を + don’t do + と.”

You don't necessarily have to leave Phrase B unsaid. In this sentence, と could have been followed by things like 困る (こまる // to be troubled) or だめ (not allowed; must not).

Just stopping at と is fine, though.

Here's an example where this is being used to urge someone else to do something:

おじいちゃん、そろそろ出発しないと。遅れちゃうよ。
おじいちゃん、　そろそろ　しゅっぱつ　しない　と。　おくれちゃう　よ。
Grandpa, we need to get going. We’ll be late.
Literally: “Grandpa, + soon + departing + don’t do + と. + (unfortunately) be late + よ.”

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Finished!

We're far from being done with conditionals, but I'd say we're making pretty good progress...

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