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Let's consider the following conditional sentence but without "ONLY".

> ボタンを押せば、ジュースが出る。If you press the button, the juice comes out.

When "ONLY" is inserted with さえ, the conditional sentence becomes as follows.

> A: ボタンを押しさえすれば、ジュースが出る。

# Question

Why do we not use B instead of A?

> B: ボタンさえ押せば、ジュースが出る。
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2016-06-06T13:25:43.167
35704
2016-06-06T13:41:15.333
11192
question
grammar
Confused in determining the rule of composing ～さえ～ば sentence
Both A and B are correct. B's also not wrong at all.
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2016-06-06T13:39:02.187
35705
2016-06-06T13:39:02.187
15670
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answer
You can use both expressions fine.

Eg, Say you were explaining to a foreigner in Japan on using a vending machine
who had never used one before. You could say something like this,

> All you have to do is ,press the button and a drink will come out.
>
> ボタンを押しさえすれば、ジュースが出る。
>
> All you have to do is study and you will pass.
>
> 勉強さえすれば合格する。

I see where "only" is implied and using "all you have to do" as the meaning
"you only have to do...."

Hope that helps.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-06-06T13:41:15.333
35706
2016-06-06T13:41:15.333
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answer