What's the meaning of this sentence: 年を取ったら、運転しません。? Thanks! ^^ - Feed Post by Lhuna

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  DS25

  When you get older you won't drive.

  February 15, 2015 at 11:11pm
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  DS25

  (It's quite harsh, though... I know many grannies who drive every day ^^)

  February 15, 2015 at 11:23pm
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  Lhuna

  that is! I wonder that is "that age"

  February 15, 2015 at 11:43pm
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  BYAKUREN

  "I won't drive if I get old" . it's the literal meaning . if you want to be more natural
  say so : 私が年を取るとき、もう運転しません

  February 16, 2015 at 1:32am
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  Lhuna

  oh, ok, thanks, this way it's easier to understand, I got it in a book in volitional form lesson and was confused.

  February 16, 2015 at 1:59am
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  beee_17

  @BYAKUREN I kinda disagree with you there. The ~たら also can also mean "as soons as", or "when the time comes", and not only "if". And you should drop the 私 if you can. So I think the first one sounds a lot more natural. I do agree with the もう though.

  February 16, 2015 at 2:22am
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  DS25

  The -tara for usually means "if" only if it has もし or a similar adverb.

  February 16, 2015 at 6:37am
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  BYAKUREN

  1) i didn't try to touch the sentence , so i wrote the same meaning and form . the only thing that has been replaced is a part of sentence ( 時 ) which is commonly used in formal occasions . 2) if you trying to make a short sentence it's common to use subject or maybe you've made yourself clear to the listener , so you won't need to use 私 again . I assume that the first sentence has been picked out from a text and the writer of text is not known to listener that's why i put 私 . see this examples : [ 私、夕食を作ったのよ . i cooked dinner ] or [ 私、粉薬って苦手なのよね . I have trouble taking powdered medicine ] or [ こんにちは、私、ナンシーです Hello, I am Nancy ] . if making a sentence and have already used 私 there is no need to repeat yourself with that again.
  

  February 16, 2015 at 7:30am
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  BYAKUREN

  using たら to mean "when" is not a common structure to use .
  i saw たら is used mostly when you do not want to repeat yourself twice like this : [ あんたったら , いつも忘れるんだから . means : you're always forgetting ] the only common meanings that can be brought out from
  are " if " & " why " for example check these : [ 英語が話せたらなあ . If only I could speak English ] or [ たばこ止めたら . Why don't you give up smoking? ] . trying to say " if " you can use these : 1) verb + te form + ば . 2) verb + なら . 3 ) na - adj + なれば . and so on .

  February 16, 2015 at 7:56am
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  Arachkid

  Yeah, but when is this magic age? The aged here are dangerous! I've seen more than a few check behind them when they want to switch lanes, but not look into the lane they're actually going to be entering! Sheesh!

  February 19, 2015 at 3:43pm