〜ものなら (~mono nara) — if only one could (but can't)
'If only I could…' — a strong wish for something you know is impossible.
Formula (सूत्र ढाँचा)
Grammar rule (व्याकरण नियम र परिभाषा)
When to use it
Walking home exhausted after a night shift, the thought sometimes comes: 「帰れるものなら、今すぐネパールに帰りたい」(if I could go back, I'd go home to Nepal right now).
Meaning
- 「〜ものなら」= you know it is not possible (visa, job, money…) but the wish is strong — the ache of knowing it can't be done, mixed with longing.
- After it comes the speaker's wish: 〜たい・〜てほしい・〜のに.
- One more use — throwing down a challenge to a friend: 「やれるもんなら、やってみろ」(if you can, go ahead and try), with a hidden 'you can't' inside.
How to attach
- The front is always a potential form (可能形): 帰れる・辞められる・戻れる + ものなら
- Or a verb that already means 'can', like できる・かなう.
- In speech it becomes 「もんなら」.
Versus what you know
- N4「帰ったら」「帰れば」is a plain condition that may well happen.
- N3「帰るとしたら」is a 'suppose I went' hypothesis.
Watch out
Never 「帰るものなら」— it needs the potential form.
Examples (उदाहरणहरू)
帰れるものなら、今すぐネパールに帰りたい。
かえれるものなら、いますぐネパールにかえりたい。
If I could go back, I'd go home to Nepal right now.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 帰る = to go back → the potential form: 帰れる → we attach 「ものなら」 (if only I could) → then the wish: 帰りたい.
こんな仕事、辞められるもんなら辞めたいけど、生活があるから無理だ。
こんなしごと、やめられるもんならやめたいけど、せいかつがあるからむりだ。
I'd quit this job if I could, but I have a living to make, so I can't.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 辞める = to quit → the potential form: 辞められる → spoken 「もんなら」 → the wish 辞めたい → but 無理だ (I know I can't).
やれるもんなら、やってみろ。
Go on, try it — if you think you can!
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) やる = to do → the potential form: やれる → 「もんなら」 → then the challenge: やってみろ (with a hidden "you can't").
Knowledge check (मिनी ज्ञान जाँच)
「＿ものなら、もう一度学生時代に戻りたい。」— fill the blank.
💡 Hint: Which form goes before 「ものなら」?
「ものなら」takes the potential form: 戻れるものなら = if only I could go back.
In which sentence is 「ものなら」unnatural?
💡 Hint: Potential form in front, a wish behind?
「降る」is not a potential form and no wish follows — plain 「降ったら」is right there.
What is in the mind of someone who says 「帰れるものなら帰りたい」?
💡 Hint: 「ものなら」= knowing it is impossible, yet…
「ものなら」carries both the knowledge that it can't be done and a strong wish.
Your score: /3