～も～ば～も — Both A and B — listing similar facts | JLPT N3 grammar

Meaning

"Both A and B": lists two facts of the same kind about a person, place or thing, stressing "all at once". The first half uses the ば form (なら for nouns and な-adjectives), but there is no "if" meaning here.

Formation

N1も Vば、N2も V: 飲む → お酒も飲めば、たばこも吸う
N1も Aければ、N2も A: 安い → 値段も安ければ、味もいい
N1もなAなら、N2も A: きれい → 空気もきれいなら、景色もすばらしい
N1も Nなら、N2も N: 教師 → 父も教師なら、母も教師だ
Negative N1も Vなければ、N2も Vない: 電話もしなければ、メールも返さない; "some…, some…": N1もあれば、N2もある

When to use it

Where to use it: Describing people, places and things: 値段も安ければ、味もいい; observations about life: いい時もあれば、悪い時もある.
Where not to use it: Not for a real "if" condition — that is ordinary ば without the paired も. Not for "although…, but" (のに, けど), except the set phrase 〜もあれば〜もある.

Examples

20 sentences

隣となりのおじさんはお酒おさけも飲めのめば、たばこも吸うすう。
The man next door drinks, and he smokes too.
この店みせは値段ねだんも安けれやすければ、味あじもいい。
This place is cheap, and the food is good too.
新しいあたらしい部屋へやは駅えきにも近けれちかければ、家賃やちんも手ごろだてごろだ。
My new apartment is close to the station, and the rent is reasonable too.
あの公園こうえんは空気くうきもきれいなら、景色けしきもすばらしい。
That park has clean air and wonderful scenery as well.
うちは父ちちも教師きょうしなら、母ははも教師きょうしです。
In my family, my father is a teacher and so is my mother.
人生じんせいにはいい時ときもあれば、悪いわるい時ときもある。
Life has its good times and its bad times.
彼かれは電話でんわもしなければ、メールも返さないかえさない。
He doesn't call, and he doesn't answer messages either.
新しいあたらしい課長かちょうは仕事しごともできれば、人柄ひとがらもいい。
Our new section chief is good at his job, and a good person too.

12 more examples

この辺へんはスーパーもあれば、病院びょういんもあって便利べんりです。
There's a supermarket and a hospital around here, so it's convenient.
姉あねは料理りょうりも上手じょうずなら、歌うたもうまいんですよ。
My older sister is a great cook, and she sings well too.
彼かれはピアノも弾けひけば、ギターも弾くひく。
He plays the piano, and the guitar as well.
父ちちは料理りょうりもすれば、掃除そうじもしてくれます。
My dad cooks and does the cleaning for us, too.
あの店員てんいんは態度たいども悪けれわるければ、説明せつめいも下手だへただ。
That clerk has a bad attitude and is bad at explaining things, too.
今年ことしの冬ふゆは雪ゆきも多けれおおければ、気温きおんも低いひくい。
This winter there's a lot of snow, and the temperatures are low too.
彼女かのじょは性格せいかくも素直すなおなら、頭あたまもいい。
She's good-natured and smart, too.
この図書館としょかんは建物たてものも立派りっぱなら、本ほんの数かずも多いですおおいです。
This library has an impressive building and a large number of books as well.
妻つまは出身しゅっしんも大阪おおさかなら、大学だいがくも大阪おおさかだ。
My wife is from Osaka, and she went to university in Osaka too.
息子むすこは勉強べんきょうもしなければ、家いえの手伝いてつだいもしない。
My son neither studies nor helps around the house.
この村むらは電車でんしゃも通ってとおっていなければ、バスも走ってはしっていない。
No trains run to this village, and no buses either.
クラスには経験者けいけんしゃもいれば、初心者しょしんしゃもいる。
The class has both experienced people and beginners.

Important notes

Both items are usually of the same kind: two pluses or two minuses. 〜もあれば〜もある is the special case: "there's good and there's bad".
It is close to 〜も〜し、〜も in meaning; も〜ば〜も sounds a bit more literary and rhythmic.

Common mistakes

✗ 値段も安いば、味もいい → ✓ 値段も安ければ、味もいい — an い-adjective takes ければ.
✗ 父も教師ば、母も教師だ → ✓ 父も教師なら、母も教師だ — nouns and な-adjectives take なら instead of ば.
✗ お酒も飲めば、たばこを吸う → ✓ お酒も飲めば、たばこも吸う — both halves need も.

Check yourself

Pick the translation of each sentence. The wrong options translate similar patterns, so watch the grammar rather than the words.

Sentence 1: この辺へんはスーパーもあれば、病院びょういんもあって便利べんりです。 This bag is light and sturdy, so it is convenient for travel.Both my father and my mother like this film.There's a supermarket and a hospital around here, so it's convenient.
Sentence 2: 彼女かのじょは性格せいかくも素直すなおなら、頭あたまもいい。 Yesterday I went to Kyoto. I also went to Nara.I have a fever and a headache, so I will stay home today.She's good-natured and smart, too.
Sentence 3: クラスには経験者けいけんしゃもいれば、初心者しょしんしゃもいる。 The class has both experienced people and beginners.I am a student too.It is raining and we are short of time, so let's take a taxi.