The particle も (mo) means “also” or “too,” while は (wa) marks the topic. Knowing when to switch between them changes your Japanese dramatically.
At a Glance
| Particle | Meaning | Replaces | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| は (wa) | Topic marker / contrast | — | 私は学生です |
| も (mo) | Also / too / either | は or が | 私も学生です |
も — Adding “Also” or “Too”
も replaces は or が to add information that applies equally to a new subject or object.
Example: 田中さんは学生です。山田さんも学生です。
Mr. Tanaka is a student. Ms. Yamada is also a student.
も replaces は in the second sentence to mean “also.”
も in Negative Sentences — “Either”
In negative sentences, も means “either” or “not…either.”
Example: 私は魚が好きではありません。肉も好きではありません。
I don’t like fish. I don’t like meat either.
も with Numbers — “As Many As” / “Even”
も after numbers can mean “as many as” or “even” (showing surprise at the quantity):
3時間も待った！ — I waited for 3 whole hours! (surprising amount)
YukaCan も replace が too?
ReiYes! も replaces が when you add a subject that does the same thing: 猫が来た → 犬も来た (The cat came → The dog also came). You drop が and use も.
YukaWhat about を? Does も replace that too?
ReiIt does! りんごを食べた → バナナも食べた (I ate an apple → I also ate a banana). も always replaces は, が, or を — but not に or で.
Side-by-Side
| Sentence | Particle | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 彼は来た | は | He came (topic) |
| 彼も来た | も | He also came |
| 彼女は来なかった | は | She didn’t come (topic) |
| 彼女も来なかった | も | She didn’t come either |
Common Mistakes
| Wrong | Correct | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 私はも学生です | 私も学生です | も replaces は — never add both |
| も in “even” sense with に/で | でも / にも | も attaches AFTER に and で: 東京にも行った |
Quick Quiz
Fill in the blank with は or も:
1. 田中さんは医者です。山田さん___医者です。→ も
2. 私___日本語を勉強しています。(I am studying Japanese too.) → も
3. 今日___天気が悪い。(The weather is also bad today.) → も
Practice in the Comments!
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Keep Learning: Grammar Hub | は vs が | Daily Expressions
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