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
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Standard
使用域
一般
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'.
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'.
- お父さんはイタリア語も出来れば、スペイン語も話せる。My father can speak Italian and Spanish.
- 日本の冬は湿度も低ければ、温度も低いから外で火を使う時は気をつけないといけない。Winter in Japan is cold and dry, so you have to be careful when using fire outside.
- このギターの音も好きなら柄も好きなので、一生手放したくありません。I like the sound and the design of this guitar, so I never want to let it go.
- マルチ商法の話を聞くたびに、騙す方も騙す方なら、騙される方も騙される方だといつも思う。Whenever I hear about pyramid schemes, I always think that if the scammers are scammers, then the scammed are scammed. (I always think that the scammers and the scammed are both at fault.)
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.- あの居酒屋のスタッフの態度もよければ、値段も高いから人気がある。The attitude of the staff at that izakaya is good and it is expensive, which is why they are so popular. (Unnatural Japanese)
Examples
彼は、スポーツも上手にできれば、仕事も効率よくできる。
He can play sports well and do his job efficiently.
彼女は地位もなければお金もない。
She has neither status nor money.
総理大臣は、経済も見直しできれば、人権問題も解決できそうです。
The Prime Minister looks like he can reform the economy and resolve human rights issues.
彼は撮影もできれば、ナレーションもできる。
He can do photography and also narration.
あの曲芸師は、茶碗も回せれば、座布団も回せる。
That acrobat can spin a tea cup and spin a cushion.
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Grammar: ~も~ば~も
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も~ば~も
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も~ば~も – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (6 in total)
DarkConfidant
Is there any known reason why it uses the えば form? It never seems to be hypothetical.
I would love to understand this
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!
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