GRAMMAR
〜も〜ば〜も
if there is ~, there is also ~.
Explanation
NOTE
〜も〜ば〜も means X and also Y — used to list paired qualities about the same topic.
彼は頭も良ければ、性格もいい。
He is both smart and has a good personality.
Lists two positive traits of the same person.
NOTE
It often pairs positive + negative traits to show variety, or two same-polarity traits for emphasis.
NOTE
With nouns + verbs, use N も V-ば N も V — the ば-clause uses the verb's conditional form.
STRUCTURE
N辞もVばN辞も
彼は歌も歌えば、ピアノも弾く。
Kare wa uta mo utaeba, piano mo hiku.
He both sings and plays the piano.
彼女は絵も描けば、詩も書く。
Kanojo wa e mo kakeba, shi mo kaku.
She both draws and writes poetry.
彼はお酒も飲めば、タバコも吸う。
Kare wa osake mo nomeba, tabako mo suu.
He both drinks and smokes.
NOTE
With i-adjectives, change い to ければ in the first half (高い → 高ければ).
STRUCTURE
N辞もAdj-IばN辞も
この店は値段も安ければ、サービスもいい。
Kono mise wa nedan mo yasukereba, sa-bisu mo ii.
This shop has both cheap prices and good service.
彼女は目も大きければ、髪も長い。
Kanojo wa me mo ookikereba, kami mo nagai.
She has both big eyes and long hair.
夏は暑さも厳しければ、湿気も多い。
Natsu wa atsusa mo kibishikereba, shikke mo ooi.
Summer has both severe heat and high humidity.
Practice exercises
1
質もも高ければ値段も高いというものだ。
If the quality is high, the price is also high; that's just how it is.
Answer
も高ければ
2
本音もも話せば互いの理解も深まる。
If you speak your true feelings, mutual understanding also deepens.
Answer
も話せば
3
事実もも知っていれば解決策もわかる。
If you know the facts, you also know the solution.
Answer
も知っていれば
4
難しい問題にしろ、時間も有れば解決策もある。
Even if it's a difficult problem, if there's time, there's also a solution.
Answer
も有れば
5
忙しい日々やら、疲れることもも有れば達成感もある。
With busy days and all, if there are tiring things, there is also a sense of accomplishment.
Answer
も有れば