“Also” or “Too”: も

The Japanese particle も is a versatile and commonly used particle that often translates to "also" or "too." It is used to indicate that the subject or object of a sentence shares a characteristic with a previously mentioned subject or object. In this blog post, we will explore the different uses of も and provide examples to illustrate its various applications.

Using も to Mean "Also" or "Too"

One of the primary uses of も is to express the idea of "also" or "too." For example:

わたし も いきます。 - I will go too.

In this sentence, the speaker is indicating that they will also go, in addition to someone else.

かれ も がくせいです。 - He is also a student.

This sentence implies that the person being referred to is a student, just like someone else who has already been mentioned.

Using も with Negative Sentences

The particle も can also be used in negative sentences to imply "neither" or "not either." For example:

わたし も いきません。 - I will not go either.

In this case, the speaker is indicating that they will not go, similar to someone else who has said they will not go.

かれ も きませんでした。 - He did not come either.

This sentence implies that the person being referred to did not come, just like someone else who did not come.

Combining も with Other Particles

It is possible to combine も with other particles to add emphasis or clarity. For example:

わたしにも できます。 - I can do it too.

Here, the particle に (ni) is used to indicate the indirect object, and も is added to show that the speaker can also do it, just like someone else.

なにも ありません。 - There is nothing.

In this sentence, 何 (nani) means "what" and the particle も is used to emphasize the negation, indicating that there is nothing at all.

The particle も is a useful and versatile part of the Japanese language, allowing speakers to express inclusivity, similarity, and negation. By understanding its uses and practicing with examples, learners can effectively incorporate も into their Japanese vocabulary and improve their fluency.