Need help in differentiating between tara and reba

[TGO]

Hi minna san!!

This is my first post, not sure if this is the right place to post this qn...anyway, can anyone enlighten me on the differences between tara and reba? For instance, I know 東京へ来たら、ぜひ連絡してください is correct but 東京へ来れば, ぜひ連絡してください is not...but I dun understand why...pls help doumo arigatou ^^

 

[undrentide]

たら is similar to if/when, you can make conditional clause.
れば is to be followed by result.

i.e.
東京へ来たら、ぜひ連絡してください
連絡をくれれば、東京を案内しますよ

hmmm, I hope others will make better explanation on this.

 

[Damicci]

Conditionals (Expressing "if") - Tae Kim's Japanese grammar guide
Check it out.

 

[JimmySeal]

As undrentide said, たら can mean when or if, whereas ば can only mean if. In the cases where their meanings overlap, ば is usually a bit politer.

 

[TGO]

thanks alot guys!