も〜も

Both and

Level 1Sounds Like mo~mo

The pattern [Noun A] も [Noun B] も is used to group items together that share a common trait. In positive sentences, it means 'both.' In negative sentences, it means 'neither.'

How It Works

The も〜も pattern is a versatile way to list items that belong to the same category or share the same situation.

1. Affirmative Usage (Both A and B)
When used with a positive verb or adjective, it highlights that the description applies to all items mentioned.
Example: 私はりんごもバナナも好きです。(I like both apples and bananas.)

2. Negative Usage (Neither A nor B)
When the sentence ends in a negative form (like 〜ません or 〜ない), the meaning shifts to 'neither/nor.'
Example: 彼は肉も魚も食べません。(He eats neither meat nor fish.)

3. Particle Rules

  • It replaces the particles は, が, and を. You should never say 'を も'.
  • It stacks after other particles like に, で, or と. For example: 東京にも大阪にも行きました (I went to both Tokyo and Osaka).

4. More than two items
Although usually taught with two items, you can list three or more: AもBもCも...

Examples (5)

  1. ひらがなもカタカナも書けます。

    I can write both Hiragana and Katakana.

    Word by Word: Hiragana also Katakana also can write.

    Here, も replaces the object marker を to show that the ability to write applies to both scripts.

  2. 昨日は雨も風も強かったです。

    Yesterday, both the rain and the wind were strong.

    Word by Word: Yesterday rain also wind also was strong.

    も replaces the subject marker が to describe the state of two different weather elements.

  3. この店は安くも近くもないです。

    This shop is neither cheap nor nearby.

    Word by Word: This shop cheap-also near-also is not.

    This shows the negative usage. Note that with adjectives, the 'ku' form is used before も.

  4. 田中さんも鈴木さんも来ませんでした。

    Neither Mr. Tanaka nor Mr. Suzuki came.

    Word by Word: Tanaka-san also Suzuki-san also did not come.

    A common way to express that multiple people were absent.

  5. 日本語も英語もスペイン語も分かります。

    I understand Japanese, English, and Spanish.

    Word by Word: Japanese also English also Spanish also understand.

    This demonstrates that the pattern can be used for more than just two items.

Common Mistakes

  • Forgetting the second 'も'

    りんごもバナナが好きです。
    りんごもバナナも好きです。

    In English, we say 'Both A and B,' but in Japanese, you must repeat the particle 'も' after every item in the list to complete the pattern.

  • Keeping the object marker 'を' or subject marker 'が'

    お茶をもコーヒーをも飲みます。
    お茶もコーヒーも飲みます。

    The particle 'も' is strong and completely replaces 'は', 'が', and 'を'. Do not combine them.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

も〜もLevel 1Both and

Learn This First

To understand 'も〜も' (both... and...), you first need to understand the basic particle 'も', which means 'also' or 'too'. This pattern simply repeats that particle after each noun in a list to show that the following description applies to all of them.

Words in This Pattern