Grammar Info

N3 Lesson 9: 20/23

でもあるBe also, It also is

Structure

Noun + ある
[い]Adjective + くもある
[な]Adjective + ある

Details

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About でもある

As an extension of the formal version of the auxiliary verb だ, である, でもある simply conveys that something 'is also (B)'. However, as も often shows something that is surprising or unexpected, でもある will primarily be used to describe additional facts about (A) that may be unexpected. Due to this, でもある usually fills the (B) role in sentences like 'while (A), it is also (B)', or 'in spite of (A), it is also (B)'.

でもある may be used after nouns, or な-Adjectives.

Examples

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    この(くるま)(すこ)(せま)いけれども、快適(かいてき)でもある

    This car is a bit small, but it is also comfortable. (it also is)

    オーストラリアは(くに)であり、大陸(たいりく)でもある

    Australia is a country. It is also a continent. (it also is)

    (かれ)(すぐ)れたプログラマーだ。そして多言語(たげんご)話者(わしゃ)でもある

    He is an excellent programmer. He is also a polyglot. (he also is)

    (かれ)()社長(しゃちょう)であったし、()父親(ちちおや)でもあった

    He was a good company president and also a good father. (he also was)

    ひとみさんは中学生(ちゅうがくせい)であるとともに社長(しゃちょう)でもある

    Hitomi is a middle school student, she is also a company president. (she also is)

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      でもある – Grammar Discussion

      Most Recent Replies (6 in total)

      • Johnathan-Weir

        Johnathan-Weir

        If that’s the case, shouldn’t the 硬 symbol be on this grammar point?

      • Daru

        Daru

        Part of literary style, not exclusively! That’s why it doesn’t have the 硬.

        I’ve heard Japanese people say でもある in conversation. A teacher once told me: ‘日本人でもある私にも意味が変わらない’ When reading Murakami. It made me laugh.

      • simias

        simias

        It’s very tangential but this point just now made me understand that だ is ultimately a contraction of である. である → であ → だ. Hence だった → でもあった. It’s obvious in hindsight but I don’t remember ever seeing it pointed out in the resources I’ve used.

        Mind blown.

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