ば～のに

About

The ば～のに pattern is used to express regret for something that didn't happen/something that we wish had happened differently/some reality that we wish was different.

For the ば～のに pattern, ば is employed to express a hypothetical reality, and のに is used to create a sense of regret/longing.

For verbs and い-adjectives, we simply use the conditional (ば) form.

E.g. あの時とき、好すきって言いえばよかったのに。 "I wish I'd told them that I liked them then."

E.g. もう少すこし安やすければ買かうのになぁ。 "If only it was a bit cheaper, I would buy it..."

For nouns and な-adjectives, たら, なら, or でなければ・じゃなければ may be used.

E.g. もっと便利べんりだったらそこに住すむのに。 "If only it was more convenient, I'd live there."

E.g. いい天気てんきならキャンプに行いくのにな。 "If only the weather was good, we would go camping."

Summary

• 

  The ば～のに pattern is used to express regret

• 

  For the ば～のに pattern, ば is employed to express a hypothetical reality, and のに is used to create a sense of regret/longing

• 

  For verbs and い-adjectives, we simply use the conditional (ば) form

• 

  For nouns and な-adjectives, たら, なら, or でなければ・じゃなければ may be used