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〜も〜ば〜も / 〜も〜なら〜も

mo … ba … mo / mo … nara … mo

By Nihongo PathUpdated

This form is also taught at JLPT N3, where it carries a different sense or register.

Meaning

both … and …; not only … but also

〜も〜ば〜も lists two items that share the same tendency: 彼はお酒も飲めば、たばこも吸う (he both drinks and smokes). The first item takes も and the ば-form; the second takes も. Both items point in the same direction, good or bad. With な-adjectives and nouns, なら replaces ば.

Both speech and writing; slightly more written than 〜も〜し〜も. Common in character descriptions and evaluations. In casual talk, 〜も〜し、〜も is more usual.

Formation

V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.

  • Noun も + Verb ば + Noun も + Verb
  • Noun も + い-adjective ければ + Noun も + adjective
  • Noun も + な-adjective なら + Noun も
  • Noun も + Noun なら + Noun も (先生も先生なら、生徒も生徒だ = both are as bad as each other)

Visual diagram

  1. お酒もfirst item + も
  2. 飲めばば-form of the first predicate
  3. 、たばこもsecond item + も
  4. 吸うsecond predicate
He both drinks and smokes.

Natural examples

  1. 彼はお酒も飲めば、たばこも吸う。

    かれはおさけものめば、たばこもすう。

    He both drinks and smokes.

    Two bad habits of the same tendency.

  2. この店は値段も安ければ、味もいい。

    このみせはねだんもやすければ、あじもいい。

    At this restaurant the prices are cheap and the food is good too.

    Two good qualities: cheap and tasty.

  3. 彼女は歌も上手なら、ダンスも上手だ。

    かのじょはうたもじょうずなら、ダンスもじょうずだ。

    She is good at singing and good at dancing too.

    な-adjective with なら: good at both.

  4. この地域は夏は暑ければ、冬は寒い。

    このちいきはなつはあつければ、ふゆはさむい。

    In this region, summers are hot and winters are cold.

    Two harsh conditions listed with い-adjectives.

  5. 親も親なら、子も子だ。

    おやもおやなら、こもこだ。

    Like parent, like child (both are at fault).

    Noun も Noun なら: a set idiom of mutual blame.

Similar grammar and the difference

Common mistakes

  • ✗
    この店は値段も安ければ、味は悪い。
    ✓
    この店は値段も安ければ、味もいい。
    Why
    Both items must share the same tendency; a contrast is expressed with が / けど.
  • ✗
    彼女は歌も上手ければ、ダンスも上手だ。
    ✓
    彼女は歌も上手なら、ダンスも上手だ。
    Why
    な-adjectives use なら, not ければ.
  • ✗
    お酒が飲めば、たばこも吸う。
    ✓
    お酒も飲めば、たばこも吸う。
    Why
    Both items take も.

Common in evaluations: 値段も安ければ量も多い. Noun も Noun なら Noun も Noun だ is an idiom of mutual criticism. The ば-clause is not a condition here; it just links parallel items.

JLPT N2 tips

On the exam

  • Look for も on both items around the blank; the first predicate is in ば / なら form.
  • Check the tendency: two positives or two negatives, never mixed.
  • Distractors include ば〜ほど (proportional) and し (casual); if the text is written style, も〜ば〜も is likely.

Frequently asked questions

What does 〜も〜ば〜も / 〜も〜なら〜も mean?

both … and …; not only … but also. 〜も〜ば〜も lists two items that share the same tendency: 彼はお酒も飲めば、たばこも吸う (he both drinks and smokes). The first item takes も and the ば-form; the second takes も. Both items point in the same direction, good or bad. With な-adjectives and nouns, なら replaces ば.

How do you form 〜も〜ば〜も / 〜も〜なら〜も?

Noun も + Verb ば + Noun も + Verb / Noun も + い-adjective ければ + Noun も + adjective / Noun も + な-adjective なら + Noun も / Noun も + Noun なら + Noun も (先生も先生なら、生徒も生徒だ = both are as bad as each other). V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.

When is 〜も〜ば〜も / 〜も〜なら〜も used?

Both speech and writing; slightly more written than 〜も〜し〜も. Common in character descriptions and evaluations. In casual talk, 〜も〜し、〜も is more usual.

What is the difference between 〜も〜ば〜も / 〜も〜なら〜も and 〜も〜し、〜も?

Casual equivalent: お酒も飲むし、たばこも吸う.

What is the difference between 〜も〜ば〜も / 〜も〜なら〜も and 〜だけでなく〜も?

"Not only": the second item is the focus; も〜ば〜も treats them equally.

What is a common mistake with 〜も〜ば〜も / 〜も〜なら〜も?

Wrong: この店は値段も安ければ、味は悪い。 Right: この店は値段も安ければ、味もいい。 Both items must share the same tendency; a contrast is expressed with が / けど.

Quick check

1 / 5Multiple choiceDifficulty 3 of 5

あの店は値段も（　　）、量も多い。