〜ものを

Expresses the speaker's regret, frustration or reproach that things did not go the way they easily could have: "if only you had done X (but you didn't)." It usually follows a ば/のに-type clause, and the sentence is often left unfinished after ものを, the result being understood. It is literary and emotional; compare plain 〜のに, which is neutral and everyday.

• 言ってくれれば手伝ったものを。

  いってくれれば てつだったものを。

  If only you'd told me, I would have helped you.

• 早く病院に行けばよかったものを、我慢するから悪化したのだ。

  はやく びょういんに いけば よかったものを、がまんするから あっかしたのだ。

  You should have gone to the hospital sooner; it got worse because you put up with it.

• 黙っていればばれなかったものを、自分から話してしまった。

  だまって いれば ばれなかったものを、じぶんから はなして しまった。

  If he'd just kept quiet no one would have found out, yet he went and told them himself.