なら and the は particle

[Rektech]

Hello~

I’m currently studying Genki 2 and I just want some clarity on using なら. Take this sentence for example:

チリなら行ったことがありますが、ブラジルは行ったことがありません。

I understand that は, を, and が never go with なら, but in the second half of the sentence, do you always use the は particle? If so, does anyone know why that is? Kinda weird for me that it wouldn’t be に. Didn’t see it mentioned in the book anywhere.

[athomasm]

@Rektech

I understand that は, を, and が never go with なら, but in the second half of the sentence, do you always use the は particle? If so, does anyone know why that is? Kinda weird for me that it wouldn’t be に. Didn’t see it mentioned in the book anywhere.

The reason the second half is use は is because it’s being used in its contrastive form.

[Rektech]

Thanks so much! Such a simple explanation, I wish the book would have said that.