if it's the case that; if you're talking about

なら picks up something just mentioned or assumed and gives advice or a reaction based on it. Attach it to a noun or plain form. Unlike たら, the なら clause does not have to happen first, it frames the topic: if that's the situation, then this.

Examples

• 京都きょうとに行いくなら、新幹線しんかんせんが便利べんりです。

  Kyouto ni iku nara, shinkansen ga benri desu.

  If you're going to Kyoto, the bullet train is convenient.

• 彼かれが行いかないなら、私わたしも行いきません。

  Kare ga ikanai nara, watashi mo ikimasen.

  If he isn't going, I won't go either.

Vocabulary in these examples

• 行く to go
• 便利 convenient
• 彼 he, him
• 私 I; me

Related patterns · Conditionals

• 〜ば if (general / hypothetical condition)
• 〜ても even if; even though
• 〜てもかまわない it's fine even if; I don't mind if