At a glance
～ば～ものを expresses regret or discontent about something that did not happen: "if only...", "had (someone) done..., (the result) would have been better". It is literary and somewhat old-fashioned, and is often used to criticize someone for not doing the obvious thing.
[ば-clause] + [result clause in plain form, usually past] + ものを
もっと早く出発すれば間に合ったものを。 If only we had left earlier, we would have made it in time.
How to form it
ものを does not attach to the ば-form. It follows the result clause that comes after the ば-clause.
| Part | Attaches to | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ば-clause (verb) | Verb ば-form | 行けば, 食べれば, すれば, 来れば |
| ば-clause (い-adj) | い-adj → ければ | 安ければ |
| ば-clause (な-adj / noun) | なら(ば) | 暇なら |
| Result + ものを | Plain form, usually past | 間に合ったものを |
| ～ばいい + ものを | Plain present いい | 謝ればいいものを |
Register: written and literary. In everyday conversation, のに is much more common.