Grammar › N2 · 01 Conditions and hypotheticals

〜さえ〜ば: if only; all you need is

N2 · 01 Conditions and hypotheticals

Says that one single condition is enough to make the result happen.

Noun + さえ + verb ば-form (or the ば-form of an adjective): お金さえあれば. With verbs: 連絡さえすれば. The condition is the minimum needed. Adding さえ makes the single condition stand out.

Examples

時間じかんさえあれば、もっと勉強べんきょうできるのに。

If only I had time, I could study more.

この薬くすりを飲のみさえすれば、すぐ治なおりますよ。

All you have to do is take this medicine and you will get better soon.

Study 〜さえ〜ば in the course →