Learn Swedish: Om låssmeden ändå vore här nu! - If only the locksmith were here now!

In Swedish, an independent om-clause (an "if" clause that stands alone without a main clause) expresses an unfulfilled wish. Adding the adverb ändå emphasizes this feeling, closely matching "if only" in English. You will also frequently see bara used in the exact same way.

Why use vore instead of är or var?

Vore is the past subjunctive form of vara (to be). It is used specifically to express hypothetical or unreal situations. While modern Swedish often replaces the subjunctive with the simple past (var) in everyday speech, vore remains extremely common and natural for unfulfilled wishes like this.

Does it make sense to use a past tense form (vore) right next to the word nu (now)?

Yes, because the past tense here indicates unreality rather than past time, exactly like English "If only the locksmith were here now". The past form signals that the wish contradicts reality, while nu sets the timeframe of that wish to the present moment.

Why is the word order ändå vore instead of vore ändå?