February 26, 2008

Mo is a little Japanese particle that goes a long way. By adding the syllable mo (inclusive particle) to interrogatives, verbs and nouns many types of useful phrases and words are formed. This ghetto grammar supplement will help you increase your Japanese vocabulary immensely. Have fun!

Question word + mo
with + positive verb
with – negative verb
dare + mo
anyone
nobody
nani +mo
anything
nothing
doko + mo
everywhere, anywhere
nowhere
itsu + mo
all the time, always
none of the time, never
nannin + mo
many people, a bunch of people
not many people

Question word +demo
with + positive verb
with – negative verb
dochi + demo
whichever
none of them
nani +demo[1]
anything
nothing
doko + demo
wherever
nowhere
itsu + demo
whenever
none of the time, never
nannin + demo
however many people
not many people

Verb(base TE) + mo
even though you verb, that’s ok
+ ii desu ka ?
Even though I verb, is it ok?
itte mo
Even though I go
may I go?
hanashite mo
Even though you speak, it’s ok
may I speak?
tabete mo
Even though I eat, it’s ok.
May I eat?
itsu + mo
all the time, always
none of the time, never
nannin + mo
many people, a bunch of people
not many people


Noun + mo

Noun + mo +?
noun + mo
noun also, or noun too

John mo
John also, or John too

Dochi or which? If asked as a question The participle mo represents inclusiveness. The English equivalent being the words also or too. The mo particle does much more than it would seem at first glance. Mo might seem like just some young run of the mill uninspiring particle like ka, ga, wa, o, or no. However this very un-ordinary syllable has so many functions. MO contains enough info to fill at least one grammar book of information of information. iscuss some uses via example.
Examples of 1

Ex. 1 daremo oran! – nobody is home!

Ex. 2 itsumo asobi ni itte imasu

Ex. 3 daremo nai – this is an awkward way of saying its nobody meaning really nobody its nobody at all.
[1] In the case of Nani+demo the i of nani is removed in Japanese leaving nandemo as the word used in this case, instead of nanidemo.