N2 Addition and Scope

~も~ば、~も: meaning, usage and examples

~も~ば、~も means: both... and... / neither... nor...

Updated 9 November 2026 · By the My Senpai team · Spotted a mistake? Tell us

Examples

1. 彼かれは頭あたまも良よければ、スポーツもできる。

   He's both smart and good at sports.

2. 時間じかんもなければ、お金かねもない。

   I have neither time nor money.

3. この町まちは海うみもあれば山やまもあって、住すみやすい。

   This town has both the sea and mountains, and it is an easy place to live.

4. 社員しゃいんの中なかには、電車でんしゃで通かよう人ひともいれば、自転車じてんしゃで来くる人ひともいる。

   Among the staff, some commute by train and others come by bicycle.

When to use it

Lists two parallel facts: "both A and B" or, with negatives, "neither A nor B." この部屋へやは駅えきにも近ちかければ、家賃やちんも安やすい means "This apartment is close to the station, and the rent is low too." Both items point in the same direction. With いる / ある it shows variety: 好すきな人ひともいれば、嫌きらいな人ひともいる.

Nuance

Neutral, common in speech and essays. Here ば is not a real condition; it simply links the two facts. Both items should be both good or both bad; mixing a plus and a minus sounds wrong. The negative form uses なければ.

Compare

し lists reasons more casually and can list three or more: 安やすいし、近ちかいし. も～ば～も is more balanced and emphatic. もいれば～もいる (some people... others) shows variety rather than adding two plus points: 賛成さんせいの人ひともいれば反対はんたいの人ひともいる.

Tip: Do not read ば as "if" here. Read 時間じかんもなければ、お金かねもない as "no time, and no money either."