も～ば～も
🃏 Flashcard
も～ば～も
mo~ba~mo
Tap to reveal usage
and; also; as well; either/or; neither
N3
Tap to test your recall · +10 XP
📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N3
Intermediate · Expressing nuance & contrast
Reading
mo~ba~mo
Post ID
50870
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
and; also; as well; either/or; neither
📖 How to use it
Pairs two items or actions to say 'both A and B' or 'either A or B' depending on context.
Attaches to
Attach も to each noun or phrase (or to the ます-stem of verbs). Insert ば after the first item, before the second も. For verbs, use the ば-form (conditional) of the first verb, then も after the second.
This pattern links two parallel elements to express that both are true or possible. It often translates as 'both... and...' or 'either... or...'. For example, 肉も食べれば魚も食べる means 'I eat both meat and fish.' When used with negatives (like なければ), it can mean 'neither... nor...'.
父は酒も飲めばたばこも吸う。
Chichi wa sake mo nomeba tabako mo suu.
My father both drinks and smokes.
彼女は英語も話せばフランス語も話せる。
Kanojo wa eigo mo hanaseba furansugo mo hanaseru.
She can speak both English and French.
この店は値段も高ければ味も悪い。
Kono mise wa nedan mo takakereba aji mo warui.
This restaurant is both expensive and bad-tasting.
Not ～も～も (just listing with も)
～も～も simply lists two items ('both A and B') without implying a contrast or condition. も～ば～も adds a sense of pairing or balance, often used with adjectives or verbs in their ば-form to emphasize that both qualities or actions coexist.
Register
Neutral, used in both spoken and written Japanese, but common in formal speech and writing.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
も～ば～も
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat も～ば～も three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.
Flip Before Reading
Always try to recall the usage before flipping the card. Struggle = learning. Every failed recall makes the next one stick harder.
Write Two Sentences
Compose two original sentences using も～ば～も. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.
Spaced Review
Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.
🔗 More JLPT N3 Patterns
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern も～ば～も mean?
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And; also; as well; either/or; neither
What JLPT level is も～ば～も?
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Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N3 — Intermediate · Expressing nuance & contrast. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.
How do you use も～ば～も in a sentence?
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Attach も～ば～も (mo~ba~mo) to the appropriate verb or noun form as described in the usage notes. Then try writing two original sentences — one about yourself and one about something around you.
Is も～ば～も formal or casual Japanese?
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も～ば～も is used in both casual and polite contexts. It appears frequently in everyday conversation, textbooks, and simple written materials.
How can I remember も～ば～も long-term?
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Use the flashcard on this page for active recall — see the pattern, reconstruct the usage from memory, then flip. Follow with the 4-choice quiz to distinguish it from similar patterns. Review later the same day and again over the following days. Writing original sentences can help you practise using the pattern in context.