〜ものなら

About

～ものなら has two main usage patterns:

• 

  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"

This entry concerns usage ①.

For usage ①, ものなら attaches to dictionary form verbs, and is used with actions that are difficult to achieve in some way.

E.g. もう一回いっかい中学生ちゅうがくせいからやり直なおせるものならそうしたい。 "If I could do it all over from (when I was) a middle school student, I would want to."

E.g. 仕事しごとを3ヶ月さんかげつも休やすめるものなら休やすみたいですよ。 "I would want to take even three months off from work if I could."

～ものなら ① tends to be used in reference to the speaker's actions, but can be used to "dare" the listener to "try and do X (if they can)".

E.g. やれるもんならやってみな。 "If you think you can do it, go ahead and try."

E.g. 止とめれるものなら止とめてみろ！ "Just try and stop me! (Lit. If you (think you) can stop (me/it/etc.), try)"

もの can be contracted to もん in casual scenarios.

Summary

• 

  ～ものなら has two main usage patterns: 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"

• 

  For usage ①, ものなら attaches to dictionary form verbs, and is used with actions that are difficult to achieve in some way

• 

  もの can be contracted to もん in casual scenarios