Number + も
Meanings
- Emphasis
- As ~ as
- Not even
About this pattern
Explanation
Number + も is used to emphasize something by implying it would be surprising or extreme to experience, have, or do that amount or quantity. It often appears with negative verbs or adjectives to express 'not even this much' or with verbs/adjectives to stress how long, frequent, or extents something is. Common patterns include using a time or quantity before も (e.g., 一日も, 二時間も, 三回も) to underline that the speaker is highlighting the unexpected or surprising extent. Note that in many cases the nuance is stronger when paired with a negation (e.g., 一日も眠れない) or a strong verb/adjective.
Learn in context
Example sentences
I couldn't sleep for even a day.
I waited for as long as two hours.
I failed three times.
I don’t have even one yen.
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More N4 patterns
Or something; Any... (with question words); No matter (who)
View detailseasy to (do); likely to (happen); easy to be affected by
View detailsDifficult to; Hard to; Not easy to do something
View detailsGradually; Little by little; Step by step
View detailsmore and more; rapidly; increasing quickly; progressively
View detailsWe/They/You all (plural forms); These/Those (plural demonstratives); Plural suffix for certain pronouns and demonstratives
View details