偶Particles: where, when and who
Even
Add surprise or emphasis. も and でも can both mean “even”, and they team up with question words.
Even
も and でも highlight something unexpected
Even an elementary school kid can understand this.
I can't even ask my teacher.
でも can follow another particle.
This shop is open even on Sundays.
I didn't even drink water.
With question words
Question word + でも means “any”
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| だれでも | anyone at all |
| 何でも | anything at all |
| いつでも | any time |
| どこでも | anywhere |
| どれでも | whichever one |
Yes or no?
でも is any, も with a negative is none
Anyone can come in.
No one came.
だれも and 何も are used only with a negative.
Numbers
も can stress how much
I waited a full three hours!
It's more than you expected.
It cost as much as 5,000 yen.
Not a single person came.
One + counter + も with a negative means “not even one”.
They won't even look at it.
A verb stem + も + negative しない means “won't even”.
Not even that
Verb stem + も + ない
My brother didn't even read my letter.
He went home without so much as an apology.
The も adds your disbelief. A plain 読まなかった just reports the fact.
Don't mix these up
Two different でも
でも (even) is one word: 雨でも行きます, “I'll go even in rain.” で + も is two particles: 東京でも買えます, “You can buy it in Tokyo too,” where で marks the place. At the start of a sentence, でも means “but”.
Your turn
も or でも?
Check yourself
What does this sentence say?
Not even that
Which one adds disbelief?
Say it yourself
So hungry
You skipped meals all day. Your friend offers to cook, and asks what you'd like.
Automatic feedback on your own answers is coming to Premium.