Structure
Noun + でもある
[い]Adjective + くもある
[な]Adjective + でもある
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Standard
About でもある
As an extension of the formal version of the auxiliary verb だ, である, でもある simply conveys that something 'is also (B)'. However, as も often shows something that is surprising or unexpected, でもある will primarily be used to describe additional facts about (A) that may be unexpected. Due to this, でもある usually fills the (B) role in sentences like 'while (A), it is also (B)', or 'in spite of (A), it is also (B)'.
でもある may be used after nouns, or な-Adjectives.
Examples
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この車は少し狭いけれども、快適でもある。
This car is a bit small, but it is also comfortable. (it also is)
オーストラリアは国であり、大陸でもある。
Australia is a country. It is also a continent. (it also is)
彼は優れたプログラマーだ。そして多言語話者でもある。
He is an excellent programmer. He is also a polyglot. (he also is)
彼は良い社長であったし、良い父親でもあった。
He was a good company president and also a good father. (he also was)
ひとみさんは中学生であるとともに社長でもある。
Hitomi is a middle school student, she is also a company president. (she also is)
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だ + も = でもある
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Tobira
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でもある – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (6 in total)
Johnathan-Weir
If that’s the case, shouldn’t the 硬 symbol be on this grammar point?
Daru
Part of literary style, not exclusively! That’s why it doesn’t have the 硬.
I’ve heard Japanese people say でもある in conversation. A teacher once told me: ‘日本人でもある私にも意味が変わらない’ When reading Murakami. It made me laugh.
simias
It’s very tangential but this point just now made me understand that だ is ultimately a contraction of である. である → であ → だ. Hence だった → でもあった. It’s obvious in hindsight but I don’t remember ever seeing it pointed out in the resources I’ve used.
Mind blown.
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