All JLPT grammar
N2

~も~ば~も~

Lists multiple attributes or actions applying to the same subject: 'both…and…', 'not only…but also…'.

At a glance

~も~ば~も~ means "not only A but also B" or "both A and B". It adds two facts about the same topic, usually both good or both bad.

[Noun 1] も [ば-form]、[Noun 2] も [predicate]

彼かれは時間じかんもなければ、お金かねもない。 He has neither time nor money.


How to form it

Put も after each noun. The first predicate takes the ば-form. The second predicate ends the sentence normally.

Type How to make the ば-form Example
う-verb Change the last u-sound to e + ば 弾ひく → 弾ひけば
る-verb Drop る + れば 食たべる → 食たべれば
する すれば 料理りょうりもすれば
来る 来くれば 来くれば
い-adjective Drop い + ければ 安やすい → 安やすければ
いい よければ 頭あたまもよければ
ない なければ 時間じかんもなければ
な-adjective なら or であれば 便利べんりなら

Example with a verb: 彼かれはギターも**弾ひけば**、歌うたも歌うたう。 "He not only plays the guitar but also sings."

Examples

  • 彼かれは勉強べんきょうもできればスポーツもできる。

    He is good at studying and also at sports.

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The rest of the lesson

When to use it, common mistakes, nuances and a quick check, with spaced repetition to make it stick.

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