How To Use Mo (も) Particle in Japanese Grammar?

If you've just started learning Japanese, you’ve probably encountered the particle も (mo) during your Duolingo exercises and wondered what makes it different from others like は (wa) or が (ga). も is a versatile and frequently used particle in everyday conversation. Mastering it can help you express inclusivity, similarity, and even emphasis—making your Japanese sound more natural and fluent.

In this article, we’ll break down the functions, uses, and examples of the mo particle so you can start using it confidently right away.

Functions of the Mo Particle

The particle も is most often translated as "also" or "too" in English. But its range of meanings extends depending on the context. Here are the main functions of mo:

1. Indicating similarity or inclusion

• Meaning: "also" / "too"

  
  

• Use it to indicate that the statement applies to more than one subject or object.

2. Emphasizing quantity or extent

• Meaning: "as many as..." / "even..."

  
  

• Often used with numbers or amounts to express surprise or emphasis.

3. Negative expressions

• Meaning: "not even..."

  
  

• When combined with a negative verb, mo can express the absence of everything in a group.

Usage of the Mo Particle

Let’s take a closer look at how mo is used in real Japanese sentences.

1. "Also" or "Too"

The most basic definition of も is the inclusion of other nouns. While も is often translated as “also” or “too”, it is may also translate as “both” or “all” to indicate that the noun attached is included. When mo replaces wa or ga, it often carries the meaning of "also" or "too".

• 私も行きます。 (Watashi mo ikimasu.) — I will go too.

  
  

• たなかさんも来ました。(Tanaka-san mo kimashita.) — Mr. Tanaka came too.

  
  

• AさんもBさんもCさんもパーティーに出ました。(Ē-san mo Bii-san mo Shī-san mo pātē ni demashita.) — A-san, B-san and C-san all went to the party.

2. Quantity or Extent Emphasis

Use も with numbers or counters to emphasize a surprising or significant amount.

• りんごを五つも食べました。(Ringo o itsutsu mo tabemashita.) — I ate as many as five apples!

  
  

• 彼女は三時間もしています。(Kanojo wa san jikan mo shiteimasu.) — She's been doing it for three whole hours!

も may also be used to indicate the extent of an action.

• あのアイス店には色んなあじのアイスが出ています。わさびのもあります。(Ano aisu tenn ni wa ironn na aji no aisu ga de te imasu. Wasabi no mo arimasu.) — That ice cream shop has all sorts of flavors. There’s even a wasabi one.

  
  

• この方は英語、ドイツ語、アラビア語も話せます。(Kono kata wa eigo, doitsu go, arabia go mo hanasemasu.) — This gentleman here can speak English, German and even Arabic.

3. Negative Statements

も paired with a negative verb can mean "not even one" or "none at all."

• なにも食べませんでした。(Nani mo tabemasen deshita.) — I didn’t eat anything.

  
  

• だれも来なかった。(Dare mo konakatta.) — No one came.

For interrogative words, they may be used with も to mean “any” or “no” depending on the context:

• 何でも: Anything/whatever

  
  

• 何も～ない／なかった: Nothing/Didn’t~anything

  
  

• 誰も: Anyone/no one

  
  

• どこも／どこでも: Everywhere/nowhere/wherever

  
  

• いつも: All the time/never

  
  

• いつでも: Whenever

  
  

• どうでも: Whichever

  
  

• 誰も私にそれを何も教えなかった。(Dare mo watashi ni sore wo oshie nakatta) — No one told me anything about this.

  
  

• 誰にも教えないでください。(Kore wa darenimo oshie naide kudasai.) — Don’t tell this to anyone.

  
  

• どうでもいいです。(Doudemo ii desu.) — Whichever is fine.

  
  

• いつも遅く寝るのは良くありません。(Itsumo osoku neru no wa yoku arimasen.) — It’s not good to always sleep late.

FAQs

1. Can I use mo with verbs or adjectives?

As with all particles, も is attached directly behind noun or noun phrases to indicate its role in the sentence. It may not be used with verbs or adjectives.

2. Does も always translate as “also”?

Not always. While "also" or "too" is the basic meaning, mo can express excess or quantity depending on context.

3. Can も be used multiple times in a single sentence?

Yes! You can use も multiple times in a sentence: たろうもゆきもいきます。(Tarou mo Yuki mo ikimasu.) — Both Tarou and Yuki are going.

Conclusion

Though simple at first glance, the particle も mo adds nuance and richness to your Japanese. It’s a small word with big expressive power—whether you’re saying "me too," talking about quantities, or expressing that something didn’t happen at all.

Keep practicing different uses of mo, and you’ll find it’s one of the easiest and most natural particles to master.

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