At a glance
～さえ～ば means "as long as", "if only", "provided that". It says that one condition is enough to get a result, and nothing else is needed.
Noun + さえ + Verb / Adjective ば-form
Verb ます-stem + さえすれば
Verb て-form + さえいれば
時間さえあれば、できます。 As long as I have time, I can do it.
How to form it
| Attaches to | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | Noun + さえ + ば-form | 水さえあれば |
| Noun (negative) | Noun + さえ + ～なければ | 雨さえ降らなければ |
| Verb | ます-stem + さえすれば | 飲みさえすれば |
| する-verb | Noun part + さえすれば | 練習さえすれば |
| Verb て-form | て-form + さえいれば | 見てさえいれば |
| い-adjective | ～く + さえあれば | 安くさえあれば |
| な-adjective | ～で + さえあれば | 静かでさえあれば |
Register: neutral. It is used in both speech and writing.