JLPT N2Mostly writtenHopeful or anxious

ないもの（だろう）かisn't there some way to…?

You badly want something and can't see how to get it, so you wonder aloud: "isn't there some way to…?" The verb is negative, but you are hoping the answer is yes.

この暑あつさ、何なんとかならないものか。

This heat: can't something be done about it?

何なんとかして、この地ち域いきの医い師し不ぶ足そくを解かい消しょうできないものだろうか。

Isn't there some way to end the shortage of doctors in this area?

How to form it

Potential verb in the negative + ものか／ものだろうか

直なおせる → 直なおせないものか. Also verbs for what is out of your hands: ならない, 来こない, くれない. Polite: ないものでしょうか. To yourself: ないもんかなあ.

Set phrase: 何なんとかならないものか: "can't something be done?"
Often with: 何なんとか, 何なんとかして, どうにか (somehow), 少すこしでも (even a little).
Which one: ものか is nearer a groan. ものだろうか is more thoughtful.
Where you'll meet it: Essays, columns, letters to a newspaper, and thinking aloud. Said politely to someone who could help, it is a plea.

ものだN3

Plain ものだ: how things are, "should", "used to".

人ひとは変かわるものだ。

People change.

In use

この騒そう音おんを少すこしでも抑おさえられないものかと、住じゅう民みんたちは市しに訴うったえた。

The residents appealed to the city: couldn't the noise be reduced, even a little?

と and a verb of thinking or asking often follow: ないものかと考かんがえた.

誰だれか、母ははの介かい護ごについて相そう談だんに乗のってくれないものだろうか。

Isn't there someone who would talk through my mother's care with me?

もう少すこし安やすくならないもんかなあ。

I wonder if it couldn't be a bit cheaper.

締しめ切きりを、あと一いち日にちだけ延のばしてもらえないものでしょうか。

Is there really no way the deadline could be put back by just one day?

Close neighbours

ものかN2

After a positive form it is usually the opposite: a flat denial, "as if I would".

あんな店みせ、二に度どと行いくものか。

As if I'd ever go to that place again.

ないかなN4

The same wish in everyday talk: "I wish…", "I hope…".

早はやく夏なつ休やすみにならないかな。

I wish summer vacation would hurry up and come.

Other forms built on もの

というものだN2

"That is what you'd call …": a verdict.

困こまったときに助たすけ合あうのが友ゆう情じょうというものだ。

Helping each other when things are hard: that is what friendship is.

というものではないN2

"It's not simply that …": one thing alone doesn't settle it.

謝あやまればそれでいいというものではない。

It's not as if saying sorry is all it takes.

ものがあるN2

"There is something … about it": a quality that strikes you.

彼かの女じょの歌うたには、人ひとの心こころを打うつものがある。

There is something about her singing that moves people.

たいものだ・てほしいものだN2

"I'd love to", "I do wish they would": a wish said with feeling.

一いち度どでいいから、オーロラを見みてみたいものだ。

Just once, I'd love to see the northern lights.

ものなら・（よ）うものならN2

After a potential verb (会あえる), "if I only could". After a volitional form (言いおう), "if you so much as …".

会あえるものなら、亡なくなった祖そ父ふにもう一いち度ど会あいたい。

If only I could, I would see my late grandfather once more.

Check yourself

1What does this mean?

もっと簡かん単たんに予よ約やくできないものか。

Choose an answer to see why.

2Which one is a wish?

Choose an answer to see why.

More sentences

この古ふるい写しゃ真しんを、元もとの色いろに近ちかい状じょう態たいまで戻もどせないものか。

Isn't there some way to get this old photograph back to something like its original colors?

両りょう者しゃが納なっ得とくできる解かい決けつ策さくを見みつけられないものか。

Isn't there some way to find a solution both sides can accept?

若わか者ものが安あん心しんして相そう談だんできる窓まど口ぐちを、もっと増ふやせないものだろうか。

Couldn't we somehow have more places where young people can safely go for advice?

忙いそがしい時じ期きだけでも、単たん純じゅんな作さ業ぎょうを自じ動どう化かできないものだろうか。

Couldn't the simple tasks be automated somehow, at least in the busy season?

早はやく春はるが来こないものか。

Won't spring hurry up and come?