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N2

ものなら①

If, If one could, If something would be possible

俺おれのことを捕つかまえられるものなら、捕つかまえてみろ!

Catch me if you can!

Explanation

「ものなら①」 has 2 uses

1A wish that can't come true

About something you can hardly do, followed by a wish such as 「たい」: 「戻れるものなら、子供の頃に戻りたい」 (if only I could, I'd go back to my childhood).

すぐに直なおせるものなら直なおしたいけど、今いまはちょっとお金かねがないから厳きびしいかな。

If it can be fixed soon, I'd like to fix it, but it might be tough right now because I don't have money.

もし行いけるものならケニアに行いってみたいです。

If it's possible, I would like to go to Kenya.

2A dare

You're sure the other person can't, and you dare them, with 「てみろ」「てみなさい」: 「やれるものなら、やってみろ」 (go on, try it if you can).

私わたしよりもっと上手うまくやれるものならやってみろ!

If you can do this better than me, I'd like to see you try.

俺おれのことを捕つかまえられるものなら、捕つかまえてみろ!

Catch me if you can!

Mixed up with

「ものなら」① (this one): potential form, 'if one could do this very hard thing'; followed by 「〜たい」 or 「やってみろ」.

「ものなら」②: dictionary form, 'if you ever do it, something terrible follows': 「遅刻でもしようものなら、厳しく叱られる」 (If you were late, you'd be scolded harshly).

The two differ in both form and meaning.

Examples

1A wish that can't come true

  1. もし行いけるものならケニアに行いってみたいです。

    If it's possible, I would like to go to Kenya.

  2. なれるものなら体操たいそう選手せんしゅになりたい。

    If I could become one, I want to become a gymnast.

2A dare

  1. 私わたしよりもっと上手うまくやれるものならやってみろ!

    If you can do this better than me, I'd like to see you try.

  2. もしあなたが私わたしより上手じょうずに書かけるものなら自分じぶんで書かいてみたらどうですか?

    If you can write it better than I can, why don't you write it yourself?

Tested 4 times in past papers

N2 · Jul 2026, Q34N2 · Jul 2017, Q34N1 · Dec 2015, Q31N2 · Dec 2013, Q35