Japanese grammar
What does ～も (large quantity) mean? Japanese grammar N4
～も (large quantity) means as many as ~, a whole ~ (emphatic quantity).
| Level (estimated, JLPT framework) | N4 |
|---|---|
| Structure | quantity + も + V |
| Romaji | ~ mo |
| Meaning | as many as ~, a whole ~ (emphatic quantity) |
Forming it
| Contrast | Quantity + しか + V(negative) — emphasizes FEW |
|---|---|
| Quantity | Quantity + も + V(affirmative) |
How to use it
Attaches after a quantity to emphasize that the speaker finds the number LARGE, beyond expectation.
- も attaching after a QUANTITY carries the meaning "as many as ~": 「ビールを十本も飲みました」(drank as many as ten bottles of beer). The number doesn't change, but も adds the speaker's feeling of surprise/too much.
- This is the も that "emphasizes a large amount," different from the も meaning "also" learned at N5 (私も学生です). Distinguish by position: attaching after a QUANTITY → "as many as"; attaching after a regular NOUN → "also".
- The opposite pair to remember: 「三時間も待ちました」(waited as long as 3 hours — too long!) ↔ 「三時間しか待ちませんでした」(only waited 3 hours — not much). Same number, opposite nuance, and も goes with the affirmative while しか goes with the negative.
- With 一 + counter + も + NEGATIVE, the meaning becomes "not a single ~": 「一人も来ませんでした」(not a single person came). This is the one exception where も goes with the negative.
Examples
昨日はビールを十本も飲みました。
Yesterday I drank as many as ten bottles of beer.
駅で二時間も待ちました。
I waited at the station for two whole hours.
パーティーには一人も来ませんでした。
Not a single person came to the party.
Keep in mind
- も (a lot) is a SUBJECTIVE evaluation — for the same "3 books," someone who feels it's a lot says 三冊も, someone who feels it's normal just says 三冊.
- Don't use も when you just want to state a neutral quantity: 「三人来ました」.
Common mistakes
-
Wrong三時間も待ちませんでしたが、足がとても痛くなりました。
I didn't wait as long as 3 hours, and yet my legs got very sore.
Correct三時間も待ちましたが、足がとても痛くなりました。
も (a lot) goes with the AFFIRMATIVE to emphasize "waited as long as 3 hours". The sentence is conjugated in the negative (didn't wait the full 3 hours), yet the second clause says "my legs got very sore" (a sign of waiting a LONG time) — a contradiction within the same sentence.
-
Wrong会議室は五人分予約していましたが、会議に五人も来ました。
The meeting room was booked for exactly 5 people, and 5 people came to the meeting.
Correct会議室は五人分予約していましたが、会議に五人来ました。
も adds the nuance "too much, beyond expectation". Here the room was already booked for exactly 5 people — exactly as planned, nothing surprising — so も must be dropped, using a neutral quantity instead.
Exam tips
- A common trap: 「十本も飲みました」(a lot) ↔ 「十本しか飲みませんでした」(only a little) — look at the sentence ending to choose.