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JLPT N4 grammar comparison

〜ずつ "each / at a time" vs 〜も (emphasising quantity) "as many as / even"

By Nihongo PathUpdated

The difference

From the 〜ずつ "each / at a time" lesson

〜も (emphasising quantity) "as many as / even": Number + も stresses a large amount (十個も). ずつ says how the amount is shared.

Side by side

〜ずつ "each / at a time"

zutsu · JLPT N4

Meaning
Equal distribution: "X each", "X at a time", "little by little".
Formation
Number + counter + ずつ: 一つずつ, 三人ずつ, 二枚ずつ少し / ちょっと + ずつ: 少しずつPerson + に + quantity + ずつ: 一人に二つずつずつ + particle possible: 一人ずつが / 一つずつを (usually omitted)

  1. りんごを一人二つずつ配りました。

    りんごを ひとり ふたつずつ くばりました。

    I handed out two apples to each person.

  2. 毎日、少しずつ漢字を覚えています。

    まいにち、すこしずつ かんじを おぼえています。

    I'm memorising kanji little by little every day.

Full lesson on 〜ずつ "each / at a time"

〜も (emphasising quantity) "as many as / even"

mo (suuryou kyouchou) · JLPT N4

Meaning
After a number, も stresses that the amount is large; with negatives, that it is zero ("not even one").
Formation
Number + counter + も + affirmative: 三時間も待った (as long as three hours)一 + counter + も + negative: 一人も来なかった (not a single person came)何 + counter + も: 何回も (many times), 何年も (for years)も replaces を / が; with other particles it follows them: 十か国にも行った

  1. 昨日は十時間も寝た。

    きのうは じゅうじかんも ねた。

    I slept a whole ten hours yesterday.

  2. 財布には一円もない。

    さいふには いちえんも ない。

    I don't have a single yen in my wallet.

Full lesson on 〜も (emphasising quantity) "as many as / even"

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between 〜ずつ "each / at a time" and 〜も (emphasising quantity) "as many as / even"?

Number + も stresses a large amount (十個も). ずつ says how the amount is shared.