〜も〜ば〜も / 〜も〜なら〜も
mo … ba … mo / mo … nara … mo
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Meaning
"both ~ and ~", "not only ~ but also ~" — listing two items of the same kind.
Two parallel clauses, each marked with も, joined by a ば- or なら-form. The two items must point the same way — both good or both bad.
Praising or criticising something on two counts at once.
Formation
V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
N + も + V-ば + N + も + VN + も + い-adj-ければ + N + も + adjN + も + な-adj / N + なら + N + も
Visual diagram
- 値段もitem 1 + も
- 安ければば-form
- 味もitem 2 + も
- いいpredicate
Natural examples
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。
This place is cheap and the food is good too.
彼は英語も話せれば、中国語も話せる。
かれはえいごもはなせれば、ちゅうごくごもはなせる。
He speaks both English and Chinese.
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's good at singing and at dancing too.
人生にはいい時もあれば、悪い時もある。
じんせいにはいいときもあれば、わるいときもある。
In life there are good times and bad times alike.
Similar grammar and the difference
Also 'not only… but also', but the two items may differ in nature. 〜も〜ば〜も stresses that both share the same evaluation. Compare side by side
〜し、〜し
Casual listing of reasons; less structured.
Casual, non-exhaustive examples; no parallel evaluation. Compare side by side
Common mistakes
- ✗
- この店は安ければ、味も悪い。
- ✓
- この店は安いが、味は悪い。
- Why
- The two items must share the same evaluation. Cheap (good) and bad taste (bad) do not match, so use a contrast.
- ✗
- 英語が話せれば、中国語も話せる。(as this pattern)
- ✓
- 英語も話せれば、中国語も話せる。
- Why
- The first item needs も; with が the sentence becomes a plain conditional 'if he can speak English…'.
- ✗
- 親切ければ
- ✓
- 親切なら
- Why
- な-adjectives use なら (or であれば), not ければ.
Some/others: 賛成する人もいれば、反対する人もいる. In writing, なら can be replaced with であれば. The verb after the second も is often the same as or similar to the first.
JLPT N3 tips
On the exam
- The first blank after Noun + も needs a ば-form; check the choices for 〜ば / 〜ければ / なら.
- Both halves must be positive or both negative; a mismatch signals a different pattern.
- The set phrase 〜もいれば〜もいる is common in 読解 to describe a variety of people.
Frequently asked questions
What does 〜も〜ば〜も / 〜も〜なら〜も mean?
"both ~ and ~", "not only ~ but also ~" — listing two items of the same kind. Two parallel clauses, each marked with も, joined by a ば- or なら-form. The two items must point the same way — both good or both bad.
How do you form 〜も〜ば〜も / 〜も〜なら〜も?
N + も + V-ば + N + も + V / N + も + い-adj-ければ + N + も + adj / N + も + な-adj / N + なら + N + も. V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
When is 〜も〜ば〜も / 〜も〜なら〜も used?
Praising or criticising something on two counts at once.
What is the difference between 〜も〜ば〜も / 〜も〜なら〜も and 〜だけでなく〜も?
Also 'not only… but also', but the two items may differ in nature. 〜も〜ば〜も stresses that both share the same evaluation.
What is the difference between 〜も〜ば〜も / 〜も〜なら〜も and 〜し、〜し?
Casual listing of reasons; less structured.
What is a common mistake with 〜も〜ば〜も / 〜も〜なら〜も?
Wrong: この店は安ければ、味も悪い。 Right: この店は安いが、味は悪い。 The two items must share the same evaluation. Cheap (good) and bad taste (bad) do not match, so use a contrast.
Quick check
彼女は料理も（ ）、掃除も上手だ。