〜と、〜

## What it means This と means 'whenever ~ happens, ~ always follows'. It describes a natural, automatic, or predictable result, closer to a rule than a one-time guess.

## When to use it Attach と directly after the **plain non-past form** of a verb or adjective. The result clause usually describes something that just naturally happens every time, like 春になると、桜が咲きます ('When spring comes, the cherry blossoms bloom'). Because it means 'always', と is great for facts, habits, and giving directions.

## Don't confuse it with と is easy to mix up with たら, another word for 'if/when'. The difference: と describes something that happens **every single time**, automatically, while たら (covered elsewhere) is more flexible and often describes a one-time, hypothetical situation. If the result is a one-off plan, invitation, or command, use たら instead of と.