も～ば～も・
This construction pairs two comparable facts and says that both apply. It often gives balanced praise, criticism, or a mixed evaluation of the same person, thing, or situation.
How the pairing works
The two occurrences of も mark the two sides as parallel. Although the first half contains ば or なら, it usually does not present a genuinely uncertain condition here. Read the whole pattern first as “both A and B,” not “if A, then B.”
Balanced evaluations
The paired facts can both be positive, both negative, or point in different directions.
Putting the pairing directly on verbs
彼はよく働きもすれば、よく遊びもする。
He works hard and plays hard too.
AnalyzeBalanced pairing versus simple addition
も～ば～も gives A and B matching grammatical weight. By contrast, だけでなく starts with A and then adds B, while 上に simply attaches another fact without requiring this paired structure.
More examples
このカメラは軽くもあれば、丈夫でもある。
This camera is both light and durable.
Analyze弟は漫画も読めば、アニメも見る。
My younger brother reads manga and watches anime too.
Analyzeこの製品は壊れやすくもあれば、修理代も高い。
This product breaks easily, and it is expensive to repair too.
Analyzeこの仕事はやりがいもあれば、責任も重い。
This job is rewarding, but it also carries heavy responsibility.
Analyzeこの案は発想も大胆なら、実現方法も現実的だ。
This proposal is bold in conception and realistic in its method of implementation.
Analyze彼女は冗談も言えば、厳しい注意もする。
She jokes around, but she also gives stern warnings.
Analyze