JLPT N3 grammar

〜としたらmeaning and usage

Meaning

If A were the case; Supposing A

This point is also listed at N2.

How to form it

  • verb (plain form)/い-adjectiveとしたら
  • noun/な-adjective (stem)だとしたら

How it is used

'Supposing A were so', followed by a guess, question or judgment. It stresses the hypothesis more than 「〜たら」 and suits situations that are uncertain or contrary to fact. Close to 「とすれば」.

Examples

  1. その川を泳いで渡るとしたら、 どれだけ時間がかかるだろうか。

    How long would it take you to swim across the river?

  2. もし一か月休みがあるとしたら、何をしたい？

    If you had a month off, what would you want to do?

  3. この話が本当だとしたら、大変なことになる。

    If this story is true, we're in serious trouble.