Japanese Grammar: The Particle も (Mo) – ‘Also’ and ‘Too’

Japanese Grammar: The Particle も (Mo) – ‘Also’ and ‘Too’
Meaning & Usage

✨ Basic Meaning

The particle ‘も’ (mo) means ‘also’, ‘too’, or ‘as well’. It is used to show that a situation applies to more than one subject or object.

🎯 Primary Function

To indicate inclusion or similarity between subjects, objects, or contexts.

📋 Grammar Structure

Noun + も + [Verb/Adjective]
Noun + も + [i-Adjective]
Noun + も + [na-Adjective] + です
Noun + も + Negative Verb/Adjective

🎭 Usage Contexts

🏢 Formal Situations

Used in formal speech and writing to include additional factors or participants.

😊 Informal Situations

Extremely common in daily conversation to express ‘Me too’ or ‘This too’.

✍️ Written Language

Used to list examples or add supplementary information to a topic.

🗣️ Spoken Language

Often used to show agreement or empathy with a speaker.

💡 Common Applications

Replacement of particles
‘も’ replaces the particles ‘は’ (wa), ‘が’ (ga), and ‘を’ (wo) when adding similar information.
Example: りんごを食べました。みかんも食べました。 (I ate an apple. I ate an orange too.)
Listing multiple items
When used with multiple nouns, it means ‘both A and B’.
Example: 犬も猫も好きです。 (I like both dogs and cats.)
Total negation
When combined with a question word (like dare, nani, doko) and a negative verb, it means ‘no one’, ‘nothing’, or ‘nowhere’.
Example: だれもいません。 (There is no one.)
📊
Frequency
Very High
🎚️
Difficulty
Beginner (JLPT N5)
Example Sentences
Example #1
私も日本人です。
Furigana: わたしもにほんじんです。
Romaji: Watashi mo Nihon-jin desu.
English: I am also Japanese.
Example #2
このカメラも高いです。
Furigana: このカメラもたかいです。
Romaji: Kono kamera mo takai desu.
English: This camera is also expensive.
Example #3
田中さんは英語も話せます。
Furigana: たなかさんはえいごもはなせます。
Romaji: Tanaka-san wa Eigo mo hanasemasu.
English: Mr. Tanaka can also speak English.
Example #4
昨日の夜も勉強しました。
Furigana: きのうのよるもべんきょうしました。
Romaji: Kinou no yoru mo benkyou shimashita.
English: I studied last night too.
Example #5
日曜日も働きます。
Furigana: にちようびもはたらきます。
Romaji: Nichiyoubi mo hatarakimasu.
English: I work on Sundays too.
Example #6
パンも卵も食べました。
Furigana: パンもたまごもたべました。
Romaji: Pan mo tamago mo tabemashita.
English: I ate both bread and eggs.
Example #7
あの店も有名です。
Furigana: あのみせもゆうめいです。
Romaji: Ano mise mo yuumei desu.
English: That shop is also famous.
Example #8
私もそう思います。
Furigana: わたしもそうおもいます。
Romaji: Watashi mo sou omoimasu.
English: I think so too.
Example #9
今日も暑いです。
Furigana: きょうもあついです。
Romaji: Kyou mo atsui desu.
English: It is hot today as well.
Example #10
どこも行きませんでした。
Furigana: どこもいきませんでした。
Romaji: Doko mo ikimasen deshita.
English: I didn’t go anywhere. (No matter where, I didn’t go).
Notes & Nuances

📌 Important Points

Particle Stacking
Particle stacking: ‘も’ follows particles like ‘に’, ‘へ’, and ‘と’.
Example: 学校へも行きます。 (I also go to school.)
Total Negation
Question Word + も + Negative creates a total negation.
Example: どこも行きません。 (I’m not going anywhere.)

⚠️ Common Mistakes

❌ わたしはも (Watashi wa mo)
✅ わたしも (Watashi mo)
You should never use ‘は’ and ‘も’ together. ‘も’ replaces ‘は’.
❌ も (instead of にも or とも) when indicating location or companion.
✅ にも / とも / へも (ni-mo, to-mo, he-mo)
While ‘も’ replaces ‘は’, ‘が’, and ‘を’, it usually attaches AFTER ‘に’, ‘と’, or ‘へ’. It does not replace them.

🏛️ Cultural Context

Politeness Level: Neutral. It can be used in both ‘desu/masu’ style and casual style.
Social Situations: Essential for showing agreement in Japanese social interactions, which is vital for ‘wa’ (harmony).
Regional Variations: None. Standard usage throughout Japan.

🔍 Subtle Differences

は vs も
‘は’ marks the topic (as for…), whereas ‘も’ adds to a previous topic (this too…).
When to use: Use ‘は’ for the first item mentioned and ‘も’ for subsequent items that share the same trait.

📝 Conjugation Notes

The particle ‘も’ does not conjugate. It is a post-positional particle that stays the same regardless of the surrounding words.

🔊 Pronunciation Tips

‘も’ is a short, flat sound. Avoid elongating it unless you are being very casual or emphasizing a point.

🧠 Memory Tips

Think of ‘も’ (mo) as starting like the word ‘More’. When you want to add ‘more’ things that are the same, use ‘も’! Also, it sounds like ‘Me too’.

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