Japanese Grammar: も～ば～も (mo… ba… mo)

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Japanese Grammar: も～ば～も (mo… ba… mo)
Meaning & Usage

✨ Basic Meaning

Both A and B; not only A but also B.

🎯 Primary Function

To emphasize that two or more things of a similar nature (both positive, both negative, or contrasting pairs) exist simultaneously.

📋 Grammar Structure

Noun も Verb-ば Noun も
Noun も い-Adjければ Noun も
Noun も な-Adjなら Noun も
Noun も Verb-なければ Noun も Verb-ない / Noun も なければ Noun も ない

🎭 Usage Contexts

🏢 Formal Situations

Commonly used in speeches and formal writing to provide a balanced view.

😊 Informal Situations

Used to emphasize a point or express frustration/admiration about multiple factors.

✍️ Written Language

Very common in literature and essays to describe settings or personalities.

🗣️ Spoken Language

Used frequently in conversation to list reasons or characteristics.

💡 Common Applications

Describing Multitalented People
Used to list multiple positive attributes of a person.
Example: 彼は勉強もできれば、スポーツも万能だ。
Expressing Balance/Duality
Used to show that life or situations have two sides (good/bad, easy/hard).
Example: 良いこともあれば、悪いこともある。
Double Negatives
Used to emphasize the total lack of multiple necessary things.
Example: 家もなければ、仕事もない。
📊
Frequency
High
🎚️
Difficulty
N3
Tag:

Related Kanji

JLPT N3 Kanji List

Related Vocabulary

JLPT N3 Vocabulary List
Example Sentences
Example #1
このレストランは、料理もおいしければサービスもいい。
Furigana: このレストランは、りょうりもおいしければサービスもいい。
Romaji: Kono resutoran wa, ryouri mo oishikereba saabisu mo ii.
English: This restaurant has delicious food as well as excellent service.
Example #2
人生には山もあれば谷もある。
Furigana: じんせいにはやまもあればたにもある。
Romaji: Jinsei ni wa yama mo areba tani mo aru.
English: In life, there are mountains (highs) as well as valleys (lows).
Example #3
あの歌手は、歌も上手ならダンスも上手だ。
Furigana: あのかしゅは、うたもじょうずならダンスもじょうずだ。
Romaji: Ano kashu wa, uta mo jouzu nara dansu mo jouzu da.
English: That singer is not only good at singing but also talented at dancing.
Example #4
お金もなければ時間もない。
Furigana: おかねもなければじかんもない。
Romaji: Okane mo nakereba jikan mo nai.
English: I have neither money nor time.
Example #5
この街は、交通も便利なら買い物も便利だ。
Furigana: このまちは、こうつうもべんりならかいものもべんりだ。
Romaji: Kono machi wa, koutsuu mo benri nara kaimono mo benri da.
English: This town is convenient for transportation and convenient for shopping as well.
Example #6
彼女は英語も話せれば、中国語も話せる。
Furigana: かのじょはえいごもはなせれば、ちゅうごくごもはなせる。
Romaji: Kanojo wa eigo mo hanasereba, chuugokugo mo hanaseru.
English: She can speak English as well as Chinese.
Example #7
酒も飲めばタバコも吸う。
Furigana: さけものめばタバコもすう。
Romaji: Sake mo nomeba tabako mo suu.
English: He drinks alcohol and also smokes cigarettes.
Example #8
このアパートは家賃も高ければ、日当たりも悪い。
Furigana: このアパートはやちんもたかければ、ひあたりもわるい。
Romaji: Kono apaato wa yachin mo takakereba, hiatari mo warui.
English: This apartment has high rent and poor sunlight.
Example #9
親も親なら子も子だ。
Furigana: おやもおやならこもこだ。
Romaji: Oya mo oya nara ko mo ko da.
English: The parent is irresponsible, and the child is the same (Like parent, like child).
Example #10
勉強も大切なら、遊ぶことも大切だ。
Furigana: べんきょうもたいせつなら、あそぶこともたいせつだ。
Romaji: Benkyou mo taisetsu nara, asobu koto mo taisetsu da.
English: While studying is important, playing is also important.
Notes & Nuances

📌 Important Points

Existential Emphasis
This pattern is often used with ‘A also exists, B also exists’ to show variety.
Example: 山もあれば谷もある。
Idiomatic Usage
In this specific idiomatic structure, it implies that both are equally bad or problematic.
Example: 親も親なら子も子だ。

⚠️ Common Mistakes

❌ 酒も飲むばタバコも吸う。
✅ 酒も飲めばタバコも吸う。
The conditional form (ば) is required for the first verb, not the plain form.
❌ 料理がおいしいしサービスも悪い。 (unnatural combination)
✅ 料理もおいしければサービスもいい。
Usually, you pair positive traits with positive traits, or negative with negative. Mixing them can sound unnatural unless intentionally contrasting.

🏛️ Cultural Context

Politeness Level: Neutral to Formal. It is more sophisticated than just using ‘mo… mo…’.
Social Situations: Often used in introductions or evaluations (of products, people, or places).
Regional Variations: Standard across Japan.

🔍 Subtle Differences

～も～も (mo… mo…)
‘mo… mo…’ is a simple list. ‘mo… ba… mo…’ adds a rhetorical flair or emphasizes the range and variety.
When to use: Use ‘mo… ba… mo…’ when you want to sound more expressive or literary.

📝 Conjugation Notes

Verbs use the -ba form. I-adjectives change -i to -kereba. Na-adjectives and Nouns use -nara.

🔊 Pronunciation Tips

Maintain a slight pause after the ‘ba’ part to emphasize the transition to the second ‘mo’.

🧠 Memory Tips

Think of it as ‘If there is A, there is also B.’ The ‘ba’ (if) creates a logical connection that makes the addition of the second item feel inevitable or balanced.

Other Grammar

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