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〜ものなら

if (I) could (but it's unlikely)

Potential verb + ものなら

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ものなら after a potential verb expresses a wish for something unlikely or impossible: できるものなら、もう一度学生に戻りたい, "if only I could, I'd go back to being a student".

The second half is a wish (たい, てみたい) or a request. The speaker suspects it can't really happen, so there's a wistful, longing tone.

As a challenge, it's provocative: やれるものなら、やってみろ, "go on, try it if you think you can". The speaker doubts the other person can.

Don't confuse it with ものの ("although") or もので ("because"). The volitional version, ようものなら, is the next point and has a very different meaning.

Examples

  • できるものなら、もう一度学生いちどがくせいに戻もどりたい。

    If only I could, I'd go back to being a student.

  • 行いけるものなら、月つきに行いってみたい。

    If it were possible, I'd love to go to the moon.

  • やれるものなら、やってみろ。

    Go on, try it if you think you can.

  • 戻もどれるものなら、あの日ひに戻もどりたい。

    If I could go back, I'd return to that day.

  • 休やすめるものなら、一週間いっしゅうかんぐらい休やすみたい。

    If I could take time off, I'd take about a week.

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