Verb (potential / volitional) + ものなら

[If ~ could / If one were to (unlikely)]

Connection: Verb (potential form) + ものなら / Verb (volitional form) + ものなら

Usage 1 — Wishful thinking (potential + ものなら): Expresses a wish for something that the speaker knows is unlikely or impossible.

• できるものなら〜たい = if I could, I would want to

Usage 2 — Warning/threat (volitional + ものなら): Warns that if someone tries to do something, bad consequences will follow.

• 〜ようものなら = if you dare to ~

Examples:

やり直せるものなら、やり直したい。(If I could start over, I would want to.)

戻れるものなら学生時代に戻りたい。(If I could go back, I'd want to return to my student days.)

そんなことをしようものなら、大変なことになるよ。(If you dare to do such a thing, it will be a disaster.)