How To Use Mo (も) Particle In Japanese Grammar [Guide]

If you've been studying Japanese for a while, you've probably encountered the particle も (mo) countless times. Most learners know it means "also" or "too," but that's just scratching the surface. The も(mo) particle is one of the most nuanced and expressive tools in Japanese grammar, and understanding its full range will make your speech sound more natural.

Unlike other particles with rigid rules, も(mo) adapts and changes meaning based on context, emotion, and what you're trying to emphasize. Let's get to know more about this Japanese grammar point in this post.

What Is the Mo (も) Particle?

The も particle is an inclusion marker that adds items to a mental "set" or group. While it's often translated as "also," "too," or "as well," its core function is to show that something belongs together with other things. Grammatically, it replaces particles like は (wa) and が (ga) to show that something is in addition to what has already been mentioned.

Example:

• Aさんは先生です。 (A-san wa sensei desu.) – A is a teacher.
• Bさんも先生です。 (B-san mo sensei desu.) – B is also a teacher.

Here, も shows that another person is a student, and you are also a student.

Basic Usage: も as "Also" or "Too"

Let's start with the most fundamental use of も - expressing "also" or "too."

Replacing Other Particles

One of the key things to understand about も is that it replaces other particles like は (wa), が (ga), and を (wo) when you want to add the "also" meaning.

Example 1: Replacing は (wa)

• 私は学生です。(Watashi wa gakusei desu.) - I am a student.
• 田中さんも学生です。(Tanaka-san mo gakusei desu.) - Tanaka-san is also a student.

Example 2: Replacing が (ga)

• 犬が好きです。(Inu ga suki desu.) - I like dogs.
• 猫も好きです。(Neko mo suki desu.) - I also like cats.

Example 3: Replacing を (wo)

• りんごを食べました。(Ringo wo tabemashita.) - I ate an apple.
• バナナも食べました。(Banana mo tabemashita.) - I also ate a banana.

Basic Sentence Patterns

Pattern 1: [Noun] + も + [Predicate]

• 彼も日本人です。(Kare mo nihonjin desu.) - He is also Japanese.
• これもおいしいです。(Kore mo oishii desu.) - This is also delicious.

Pattern 2: Multiple Items with も

• 犬も猫も好きです。(Inu mo neko mo suki desu.) - I like both dogs and cats.
• 英語も日本語も話せます。(Eigo mo nihongo mo hanasemasu.) - I can speak both English and Japanese.

も in Negative Sentences: "Either" or "Neither"

When used in negative sentences, も takes on the meaning of "either" or "neither."

Examples:

• 私は学生じゃありません。田中さんも学生じゃありません。 (Watashi wa gakusei ja arimasen. Tanaka-san mo gakusei ja arimasen.) I'm not a student. Tanaka-san isn't a student either.
• 犬も猫も飼っていません。 (Inu mo neko mo katte imasen.) I have neither dogs nor cats.

Emphatic Usage: も for Surprise or Emphasis

Beyond basic "also/too" usage, も can add emphasis or express surprise, similar to "even" in English.

Expressing Surprise

Example:

• 子供もこの問題を解けました。 (Kodomo mo kono mondai wo tokemashita.) Even a child could solve this problem.
• あの有名な歌手も来るんですか？ (Ano yuumei na kashu mo kuru n desu ka?) Even that famous singer is coming?

Emphasizing Quantity

When も follows numbers or quantities, it emphasizes that the amount is surprising or impressive.

Examples:

• 三時間も待ちました。 (San-jikan mo machimashita.) I waited for three whole hours.
• 十個も食べたんですか？ (Juu-ko mo tabeta n desu ka?) You ate ten of them?

Advanced Usage: Question Words + も

When も combines with question words, it creates expressions meaning "every" or "any."

Common Combinations

何も (nani mo) - "nothing" (in negative sentences) or "anything"

• 何も食べていません。(Nani mo tabete imasen.) - I haven't eaten anything.
• 何も問題ありません。(Nani mo mondai arimasen.) - There's no problem.

誰も (dare mo) - "nobody" (in negative sentences) or "everyone"

• 誰も来ませんでした。(Dare mo kimasen deshita.) - Nobody came.

どこも (doko mo) - "nowhere" (in negative) or "everywhere"

• どこも行きたくありません。(Doko mo ikitaku arimasen.) - I don't want to go anywhere.

いつも (itsumo) - "always"

• いつもありがとうございます。(Itsumo arigatou gozaimasu.) - Thank you always.

どれも (dore mo) - "all of them" or "none of them"

• どれもおいしそうです。(Dore mo oishisou desu.) - All of them look delicious.

も with Other Particles

も can combine with other particles to create more nuanced meanings.

Common Combinations

にも (ni mo) - "to/for... also"

• 友達にも話しました。(Tomodachi ni mo hanashimashita.) - I also told my friend.

でも (de mo) - "at/in... also" or "even"

• 家でも勉強できます。(Ie de mo benkyou dekimasu.) - I can study even at home.

からも (kara mo) - "from... also"

• 日本からも来ています。(Nihon kara mo kite imasu.) - They're coming from Japan too.

へも (e mo) - "to... also"

• 京都へも行きました。(Kyoto e mo ikimashita.) - I also went to Kyoto.

Practical Usage in Daily Conversation

Here are some common scenarios where you'll use も in everyday Japanese:

Agreeing with Someone

• A: コーヒーが好きです。(Koohii ga suki desu.) - I like coffee.
• B: 私も好きです。(Watashi mo suki desu.) - I like it too.

Listing Multiple Items

• 昨日は買い物も掃除もしました。 (Kinou wa kaimono mo souji mo shimashita.) Yesterday I both went shopping and did cleaning.

Expressing Inclusiveness

• 初心者も参加できます。 (Shoshinsha mo sanka dekimasu.) Even beginners can participate.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Mistake 1: Using も with Other Particles Incorrectly

Wrong: 私はも学生です。(Watashi wa mo gakusei desu.) Correct: 私も学生です。(Watashi mo gakusei desu.)

Remember: も replaces は, が, and を, not adds to them.

Mistake 2: Forgetting Negative Context with Question Words

Wrong: 何も食べます。(Nani mo tabemasu.) Correct: 何も食べません。(Nani mo tabemasen.) - I don't eat anything.

Remember: Question word + も usually requires negative verbs except for いつも (always).

Mistake 3: Overusing も for Emphasis

While も can add emphasis, using it too frequently can make your speech sound unnatural. Use emphatic も sparingly for maximum impact.

JLPT N5 Focus Points

If you're preparing for the JLPT N5, focus on these key aspects of も:

1. Basic "also/too" usage - This is the most tested function
2. Replacing は, が, を - Understanding when も replaces other particles
3. Double も constructions - Like 犬も猫も (both dogs and cats)
4. Common expressions - いつも (always), 何も (nothing), 誰も (nobody)

Practice Exercises

Try translating these sentences using も:

1. I like sushi. My friend also likes sushi.
2. I can't speak Chinese or Korean either.
3. Even children know this.
4. I studied for five hours straight.
5. Everything looks delicious.

Take Your Japanese to the Next Level

Grammar guides like this one give you the basics, but the real learning happens when you hear も used in real conversations. That is where Lingopie helps. With Lingopie, you can watch Japanese TV shows, movies, and anime with interactive subtitles that let you click on words like も to see what they mean and how native speakers use them.

Instead of memorizing Japanese sentence patterns, you will start to pick up natural Japanese by watching content you actually enjoy. Want to see how native speakers really use も in everyday speech? Try Lingopie and turn your grammar study into a real language experience!