[milami88]

I'm so sorry I still don't understand the nakereba thing. What I have learnt is that "nakereba" (-eba conditonal) means "if something not [happening]". Why DE nakereba? What is the purpose of the DE?

こんなに急ぎでなきゃ　家の 手入れも　しといたんだけんど。

Could you please translate the sentence? Because I am watching totoro with English and Japanese subtitles, so the English translation isn't always exact. The translation in the subtitles was "If you weren't in so much hurry [if you hadn't come here so early], I would have taken care of the house". The was I understand it is "If I weren't so busy, I would have taken care of the house".