Elizabeth
先輩
- 22 Apr 2003
- 9,839
- 135
Petroclus:
When I want to talk about something volitional in the past, doing something with the intent of something else occuring, I usually end up using とき instead of たら. Although in some cases it works with uncontrollable, unexpected events as well.
As one example that I hope illustrates this accurately...
日本へいきたいのは恋人 (boyfriend) にあいたいからだ。(I want to go to Japan to meet my boyfriend).
東京に行った（いる）とき、恋人に会った。(When I went to Tokyo, I met my boyfriend). If I had changed toki to ittara, my impression would be instead that I happened to meet him there unplanned, by chance. Which would be nice and fun but quite strange.
英語だと、どちらも正しいし、意味も同じなのであまり、気にする必要はないと思いますね。
When I want to talk about something volitional in the past, doing something with the intent of something else occuring, I usually end up using とき instead of たら. Although in some cases it works with uncontrollable, unexpected events as well.
As one example that I hope illustrates this accurately...
日本へいきたいのは恋人 (boyfriend) にあいたいからだ。(I want to go to Japan to meet my boyfriend).
東京に行った（いる）とき、恋人に会った。(When I went to Tokyo, I met my boyfriend). If I had changed toki to ittara, my impression would be instead that I happened to meet him there unplanned, by chance. Which would be nice and fun but quite strange.
英語だと、どちらも正しいし、意味も同じなのであまり、気にする必要はないと思いますね。