Grammar › N1 · 01 Conditions and hypotheticals

〜ようものなら: if so much as; the moment

N1 · 01 Conditions and hypotheticals

Warns that something bad will follow if a certain thing happens even slightly.

Verb volitional form (〜(よ)う) + ものなら. The result is always a bad or extreme outcome, and the speaker treats even a small action as risky. Different from plain 〜たら, which can lead to good results too.

Examples

うちの父ちちは、約束やくそくに少すこしでも遅おくれようものなら烈火れっかのごとく怒おこる。

My father flies into a rage if you are even a little late for an appointment.

上司じょうしに口答くちごたえしようものなら、すぐに怒鳴どなられるよ。

If you so much as talk back to the boss, you will be shouted at right away.

Study 〜ようものなら in the course →