と's role in 「それは触ると柔らかい」


I found out this sentence:

[code]

    それは触{さわ}ると柔{やわ}らかい
    
[/code]

and I don't understand と sentence in here. I know と is related to "and" and
"with". But what's its role on this sentence?




と has quite a few meanings. To name a few...

The case particle (格助詞) と can mean "and" or "with". It attaches to 体言, such as
nouns and pronouns. eg:

>   * 「りんごとみかん」(apples and oranges)
>   * 「わたしと一緒に」(together with me)
>

The case particle と can also be used as a quotative particle. It attaches to
almost anything, eg:

>   * 「おいしいと思う」(I think it's tasty)
>   * 「買うと言った」(I said I would buy it)
>   * 「今日の晩ご飯はトンカツ(だ)と聞いた」(I heard today's dinner is tonkatsu)
>

The と in your example is a conjunctive particle (接続助詞) meaning "When~" or
"If~". It attaches to 用言, such as verbs, adjectives, auxiliaries. eg:

>   * 「食べると太る。」(If you eat, you'll gain weight.)
>   * 「暗いと見えない。」(If/When it's dark, I can't see.)
>

So your sentence それは触ると柔らかい means "It feels soft when/if you touch it."




と has quite a few meanings. To name a few...

The case particle (格助詞) と can mean "and" or "with". It attaches to 体言, such as
nouns and pronouns. eg:

>   * 「りんごとみかん」(apples and oranges)
>   * 「わたしと一緒に」(together with me)
>

The case particle と can also be used as a quotative particle. It attaches to
almost anything, eg:

>   * 「おいしいと思う」(I think it's tasty)
>   * 「買うと言った」(I said I would buy it)
>   * 「今日の晩ご飯はトンカツ(だ)と聞いた」(I heard today's dinner is tonkatsu)
>

The と in your example is a conjunctive particle (接続助詞) meaning "When~" or
"If~". It attaches to 用言, such as verbs, adjectives, auxiliaries. eg:

>   * 「食べると太る。」(If you eat, you'll gain weight.)
>   * 「暗いと見えない。」(If/When it's dark, I can't see.)
>

So your sentence それは触ると柔らかい means "It feels soft when/if you touch it."

