Grammar Info

N2 Lesson 9: 23/23

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

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    Standard

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.

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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