～(よう)ものなら: "If I could/If one were to..."

Introduction

I'm about to write the crap out of this lesson. Just try and stop me!

And if you've ever wondered how to say something like "Just try and stop me" in Japanese, then this is the lesson for you.

～(よう)ものなら: One もの, one なら, two patterns

Today's lesson will cover two usages, each with its own pattern:

• 

  用法ようほう①: (Dictionary form/potential form verb)ものなら "If one could X"

• 

  用法ようほう②: (Volitional form verb)ものなら "If one were to X"

Although they both use ものなら in a similar way, they differ in meaning enough to be fully separated. So, without further ado, let's start things off with:

用法➀:～ものなら (If I could, I'd like to be like you one day...)