How to tell the difference between と as "and"/a conditional?


The particle と can mean either a fairly simple "And" or it can mean if X then
Y.

1: 私は犬と猫が好きです - I like dogs and cats

2: びんを落すと壊れる - if drop the bottle, it breaks

Taken independently either of these rules is easy to remember. In fact と as
"and" is probably one of the earliest things you learn in Japanese.

With these two simple example sentences it is quite easy to figure out what is
going on. But, when you're reading a longer passage things might not be so
clear.

Are there any rules for spotting the difference between the two とs?

For example with example 2, how do you absolutely 100% know that it means drop
it=> it breaks, rather than just drop it and break it in a unrelated actions,
listy sort of way?




と after a verb/i-adjective is the conditional usage*  
(1) そんなことすると逮捕されるぞ。If you do things like that you'll get arrested.  
(2) おいしいとつい食べ過ぎてしまう。If it tastes good I always end up eating too much.

と directly after a noun is the listing usage*  
(3) 私は犬と猫が好きです。I like dogs and cats.  
(4) 日本と中国で文化が違う。Japan and China have different cultures.

だと/ですと after a noun/na-adjective would be the conditional usage*  
(5) 海外だと変な意味になってしまう日本人の名前 Japanese names which have a strange meaning abroad  
(6) まわりが静かだと逆に集中できない。If my surroundings are quiet, I actually can't
concentrate.

*Assuming it not the quoting usage like   
(7)「明日雨が降る」と言っていた。They said "It will rain tomorrow".  
(8) いい映画だと思います I think it's a good film.

EDIT: If you want to list verbs, you have a number of ways including the te-
form, ～たり～たりする structure, and using こと or の to basically make the verbs into
nouns.

(9) 学校に行って勉強します I will go to school and study.  
(10) 週末は買い物に行ったり映画を見たりします。On the weekend I do things such as go shopping and
watch movies.  
(11) 僕の趣味はゲームをすることと、映画を見ることです。My hobbies are playing games and watching
movies.  
(12) 料理するのが好きです。 I like cooking.  
In 11 and 12, the こと or の after the verb basically makes it into a noun so you
can connect it using と just like other nouns.

