でもあるBe also, It also is

Structure

Noun + でもある
［い］Adjective + くもある
［な］Adjective + でもある

Details

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(くるま)は少(すこ)し狭(せま)いけれども、快適(かいてき)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(くに)であり、大陸(たいりく)でもある。

Australia is a country. It is also a continent. (it also is)

彼(かれ)は優(すぐ)れたプログラマーだ。そして多言語(たげんご)話者(わしゃ)でもある。

He is an excellent programmer. He is also a polyglot. (he also is)

彼(かれ)は良(い)い社長(しゃちょう)であったし、良(い)い父親(ちちおや)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(ちゅうがくせい)であるとともに社長(しゃちょう)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
  Japanese StackExchange

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- Tobira
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でもある – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (6 in total)

Pushindawood
be also
it also is
Structure
- Noun + でもある
- な-Adj. + でもある
View on Bunpro
jameselias
Just as confirmation, as I already think this is the case, this grammar is formal/written Japanese mostly, right? Not sure if I’ve heard it used much in converstions!
mrnoone
@jameselias
Hey and welcome on the community forums

Yes, you are right. である (and of course でもある) are part of Japanese form literary style. You can see those in encyclopedia records (like wikipedia articles), thesis and so on.

I hope it helps,
Cheers!
jameselias
Thank you! I’m finding that a lot of N3/N2 are formal versions of grammar that I use more naturally on an everyday basis. That certainly makes them easier to remember!
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.