〜も〜も (Both/Neither)
List items with も and negate them.
Shopping and Preferences
Imagine you are at a cafe with a friend. You are looking at the menu and deciding what to order. You notice that both the coffee and the tea are sold out, or perhaps you want to express that you like both cake and cookies.
How to use も
The particle も means 'also' or 'too'. When used in a list, it creates a 'both/and' or 'neither/nor' structure.
Tip
Seeing it in Action
Here are some common ways to use this pattern.
コーヒーも紅茶もありません。
There is neither coffee nor tea.
ペンもノートも机の上にあります。
Both the pen and the notebook are on the desk.
猫も犬【も】好きです。
Hint: The particle that means 'also' or 'too'.
I like both cats and dogs.
Nuance and Usage
The も particle is very versatile. It replaces particles like が or を, but it does not replace に (location) or で (means).
Particle replacement
Noun + が/を + も
Replaces the subject/object marker
りんごも食べます
Noun + に/で + も
Adds to the existing particle
家にもあります
If you want to say 'I have it at home too', which is correct?
- 家もあります
- ✓ 家にもあります
When using location particles like に, you add も after them, not replace them.
Deep Dive: More than two items
You can list more than two items using this pattern.
Listing three or more items
Lesson Summary
The particle も allows you to group items together to say 'both/all' or 'neither/none'. Remember to keep the verb negative if you are listing things that don't exist or that you don't like.