The Japanese particle も often means “also” or “too,” but its position depends on the grammatical job of the item being added. In basic sentences, も usually replaces は, が, or を. It follows に or で, creating にも or でも, because those particles still need to show destination, time, or place of action.
も Marks the Item Being Added
Start with one statement. Then put も after the new item that shares that statement. English often places “too” near the end of a sentence, but Japanese places も immediately after the added item.
私は学生です。
I am a student.
妹も学生です。
My younger sister is a student too.
今日も日本語を勉強します。
I am studying Japanese today too.
The item before も is the one being added. 妹も adds the younger sister; 今日も adds today.
も Replaces は, が, and を
In ordinary beginner sentences, do not stack も after は, が, or を. Replace the original particle with も.
| Original job | Before adding も | With も | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Topic は | 妹は学生です。 | 妹も学生です。 | My younger sister is a student too. |
| Subject が | 犬がいます。 | 犬もいます。 | There is a dog too. |
| Object を | 雑誌を読みます。 | 雑誌も読みます。 | I read magazines too. |
For example, after saying 本を読みます, add another object with 雑誌も読みます. The object marker を disappears because も takes its place. For a fuller comparison of topics and subjects, see The Japanese Particle は.
Keep に and で: にも and でも
Particles に and で normally stay before も because they carry information that も does not replace. に can mark a destination or time. で can mark the place where an action happens.
| Particle job | First statement | Added statement | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Destination に | 学校に行きます。 | 図書館にも行きます。 | I also go to the library. |
| Time に | 土曜日に働きます。 | 日曜日にも働きます。 | I work on Sunday too. |
| Action location で | 家で勉強します。 | 図書館でも勉強します。 | I also study at the library. |
Compare 図書館にも行きます with 図書館でも勉強します. The first sentence needs に for a destination; the second needs で for an action location. Review these roles in Japanese Particles を, に, and で.
も in an Ordinary Negative Sentence
When a known person or thing is added to a negative statement, も can mean “not either.” The negative meaning comes from the predicate, not from も alone.
A: 私は行きません。
I am not going.
B: 私も行きません。
I am not going either.
田中さんも来ません。
Mr. Tanaka is not coming either.
Question Word＋も＋Negative
A question word followed by も and a negative predicate forms expressions such as “nothing,” “no one,” and “nowhere.” In standard beginner Japanese, the predicate must be negative for these meanings.
| Pattern | Example | Natural meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 何も＋negative | 何も食べません。 | I do not eat anything. / I eat nothing. |
| 誰も＋negative | 誰も来ません。 | No one is coming. |
| どこにも＋negative | どこにも行きません。 | I am not going anywhere. |
Notice that どこ keeps に: どこにも. The particle に still marks a destination, and も joins it to the negative pattern.
何も and 何でも Are Different
Do not use 何も食べます to mean “I eat anything.” For an unrestricted positive meaning, use 何でも.
何も食べません。
I do not eat anything.
何でも食べます。
I eat anything.
誰も来ません。
No one is coming.
誰でも参加できます。
Anyone can participate.
Compare the Two Negative Patterns
| Sentence | What も does | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 私も行きません。 | Adds a known person to a negative statement | I am not going either. |
| 誰も行きません。 | Question word＋も＋negative | No one is going. |
| 水も飲みません。 | Adds a known item to a negative statement | I do not drink water either. |
| 何も飲みません。 | Question word＋も＋negative | I do not drink anything. |
Common Mistakes
| Incorrect or unsuitable here | Correct | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 私はも学生です。 | 私も学生です。 | も replaces は. |
| 雑誌をも読みます。 | 雑誌も読みます。 | This form can be emphatic in formal language, but neutral beginner addition normally uses も instead of を. |
| 図書館も勉強します。 | 図書館でも勉強します。 | で is still needed to mark the place of study. |
| 誰も来ます。 | 誰も来ません。 | “No one” requires a negative predicate. |
Practice: 10 Questions
- Replace は with も: 妹は学生です。
- Fill in the particle: 猫がいます。犬（ ）います。
- Fill in the particle: 本を読みます。雑誌（ ）読みます。
- Choose も or にも: 学校に行きます。図書館（ ）行きます。
- Choose も or でも: 家で勉強します。図書館（ ）勉強します。
- Translate into Japanese: “I do not eat anything.”
- Translate into Japanese: “No one came yesterday.”
- Translate into Japanese: “I am not going anywhere this weekend.”
- Correct the sentence: 私はも学生です。
- Explain the difference: 私も行きません。 / 誰も行きません。
Answers and Reasons
- 妹も学生です。 The added topic uses も instead of は.
- も: 犬もいます。 The added subject uses も instead of が.
- も: 雑誌も読みます。 The added object uses も instead of を.
- にも: 図書館にも行きます。 に remains because the library is a destination.
- でも: 図書館でも勉強します。 で remains because the library is where the action happens.
- 何も食べません。 何も combines with a negative predicate to mean “nothing” or “not anything.”
- 昨日は誰も来ませんでした。 誰も plus a past negative predicate means “no one came.”
- 今週末はどこにも行きません。 に stays with どこ, and the predicate is negative.
- 私も学生です。 Do not place も after は; replace は with も.
- 私も行きません adds a known person: “I am not going either.” 誰も行きません uses question word＋も＋negative: “No one is going.”
Summary
Put も after the item that shares information already stated. In basic neutral sentences, it replaces は, が, and を. Keep に and で, producing にも and でも. With question words, use a negative predicate for 何も〜ません, 誰も〜ません, and どこにも〜ません.
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