ISORI

〜ものなら

JLPT N3:

if (I) could

"If it were possible": imagines something the speaker thinks is hard or unlikely, and says what they would want then.

How to form it

  • Put a potential verb or できる in the dictionary form and add ものなら: 行(い)けるものなら (if I could go).
  • The second half is usually a wish, a request or a challenge: 行(い)けるものなら行(い)きたい (I'd go if I could), やれるものならやってみろ (go on, try it if you think you can).

Examples

会(あ)えるものなら、もう一度(いちど)会(あ)いたい。

If I could, I'd love to see them once more.

できるものなら、人生(じんせい)をやり直(やりなお)したい。

If it were possible, I'd like to live my life over again.

Notes

  • In conversation it is often もんなら.
  • With the volitional form, ものなら has a different use: it warns of a bad result. そんなことを言(い)おうものなら、怒(おこ)られるよ (if you so much as say that, you'll get told off).