～ものなら

How to form it

• Verb (potential or volitional form) + ものなら

Register: Neutral

Explanation

Has two uses: a wish about something that is hard or impossible ('if I could'), and a warning about a risky action ('if you were to try').

With the potential form it expresses longing. With the volitional form it is a warning that something bad follows.

Examples

1. できるものなら、もう一度やり直したい。

   できるものなら、もういちどやりなおしたい。

   If I could, I would like to start again.

2. 行けるものなら、今すぐ行きたい。

   いけるものなら、いますぐいきたい。

   If I could go, I would go right now.

3. 逃げようものなら、すぐに捕まえられるだろう。

   にげようものなら、すぐにつかまえられるだろう。

   If you were to try to run away, you'd be caught at once.

Compare with

• ～とすれば / ～とすると: とすれば reasons from an assumption; ものなら is for difficult wishes or risky actions.

Common mistakes

• Using it with ordinary conditions. It is for difficult or dangerous matters.