Japanese grammar · no level in the source

〜ないものかmeaning and usage

Meaning

Can't A be done?

How to form it

  • verb (nai-form)ものか
  • verb (nai-form)ものだろうか
  • 何とかverb (nai-form)ものか

How it is used

Voices a strong wish that something could happen: 'Isn't there some way to…?'. It often goes with a potential verb and 「何とか」, and sounds impatient. Not the same as 「〜ものか」 after a dictionary form ('no way will I').

Examples

  1. もう少し安く買えないものかと、店を何軒も回った。

    Hoping I could buy it a bit cheaper, I went round shop after shop.

  2. 何とか、みんなで一緒に行けないものか。

    Isn't there some way we could all go together?