も～ば～も…And…, Both ... and ..., ... And ... as well

Structure

Noun (A)も + Verb［ば］+ Noun (B)も

Noun (A)も + ［い］Adjective［ば］+ Noun (B)も

Noun (A)も + ［な］Adjective + なら + Noun (B)も

Noun (A)も + Noun + なら + Noun (B)も

Details

About も～ば～も

も～ば～も is a construction in Japanese which presents aspects of something to which both (A) and (B) are true. も will be connected to a noun, before the hypothetical marking particle ば will appear following a verb, い-Adjective, な-Adjective, or noun. In the case of nouns and な-Adjectives, なら or ならば will be used.

In this way, も～ば～も just highlights that 'If (A) is true, then so is (B)'. This usually just emphasizes that (A) and (B) are things that go together hand-in-hand, with one trait or characteristic always existing if the other does. Standard translations include 'both (A) and (B) are (C)', or 'the trait of (C), is in (A) and (B) as well'.

Caution

With も～ば～も, both traits must be things that share some sort of mutual connection. This means that both (A) and (B) will either be positive, neutral, or negative, but never a mixture of any one.

あの居酒屋(いざかや)のスタッフの態度(たいど)もよければ、値段(ねだん)も高(たか)いから人気(にんき)がある。

The attitude of the staff at that izakaya is good and it is expensive, which is why they are so popular. (Unnatural Japanese)

Examples

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彼女(かのじょ)は地位(ちい)もなければお金(かね)もない。

She has neither status nor money.

あの人(ひと)は、実力(じつりょく)もあれば、努力(どりょく)もする。

That person has capabilities and puts forth effort.

彼(かれ)は撮影(さつえい)もできれば、ナレーションもできる。

He can do photography and also narration.

「うまくいっている」という実感(じっかん)もなければ、兆候(ちょうこう)もない。

There is not any feeling of 'it is going well,' nor is there any indication.

総理大臣(そうりだいじん)は、経済(けいざい)も見直(みなお)せれば、人権(じんけん)問題(もんだい)も解決(かいけつ)できます。

The Prime Minister can reform the economy and resolve human rights issues.

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- Grammar: ～も～ば～も
  NihonOnTheGo
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も～ば～も – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (7 in total)

Fuga
Hey there @DarkConfidant !

This ば form used here is how it was used in old Japanese and it seems like it is still being used here. Before 〜ば was used for hypothetical situations, it was used to describe how something ‘has already come true’, this form is called 已然形. For example, 彼は、スポーツも上手にできれば、仕事も効率よくできる。If we translate this sentence with the 已然形 in mind, this sentence has the nuance of ‘He can already play sports as well as he can work efficiently.’ Here, できれば does not mean ‘if he can do’, but ‘it is true that he can already do’.

We hope that this answers your question!
DarkConfidant
Thanks! That helps a lot!
Sammouse
@Fuga

Sorry to resurrect this point a bit, but if ば isn’t being used to convey a hypothetical in this instance, then why does the grammar point still teach it to be as such as opposed to an exception to the rule? I personally get thrown off during reviews when the hint at the top of the card says “Hypothetical, inclusive” despite it not logically fitting with the sentence.