～ばいい

N4

～ばいい

~ba ii

~ba ii (should / it would be good if)

N4

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Explanation

The ～ばいい grammar point is used to give suggestions, recommendations, or advice. It often translates as 'should' or 'it would be good if' in English. The formation changes depending on whether it is attached to a verb, い-adjective, な-adjective, or noun.

Structure

Pattern
Verb-ば-form + いい / い-adjective + ければいい / な-adjective + であればいい / Noun + であればいい
Verb-ば-formConditional form of the verb, used to express 'if (do), then...'.
Examples: 食べれば, 行けば
い-adjective + ければConditional form of い-adjective.
Examples: 安ければ, 高ければ
な-adjective + であればConditional form for な-adjective.
Examples: 静かであれば, 元気であれば
Noun + であればConditional form for nouns.
Examples: 学生であれば, 先生であれば
いいMeans 'good' or 'okay', used to give advice or suggestions.
Examples: いい

Examples

Example 1
もっと勉強すればいい。
Motto benkyou sureba ii.
You should study more.
Breakdown
もっとmore
勉強study
すればif (do)
いいgood/should
Example 2
お腹が空いたら、何か食べればいい。
Onaka ga suita ra, nanika tabereba ii.
If you're hungry, you should eat something.
Breakdown
お腹stomach
がsubject marker
空いたらif (become) hungry
何かsomething
食べればif (eat)
いいgood/should
Example 3
もっと速く走ればいい。
Motto hayaku hashireba ii.
You should run faster.
Breakdown
もっとmore
速くquickly/faster
走ればif (run)
いいgood/should
Example 4
わからなければ、先生に聞けばいい。
Wakaranakereba, sensei ni kikeba ii.
If you don't understand, you should ask the teacher.
Breakdown
わからなければif (don't understand)
先生teacher
にto
聞けばif (ask)
いいgood/should

Related Grammar

Practice Exercises →
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