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JLPT N5 grammar comparison

も (also; too) vs でも (however) ／ でも (even, or something)

By Nihongo PathUpdated

The difference

From the も (also; too) lesson

でも (however) ／ でも (even, or something): Question word + でも = "any" (何でも anything); question word + も + negative = "none" (何も nothing).

From the でも (however) ／ でも (even, or something) lesson

も (also; too): 何も + negative = nothing; 何でも = anything.

Side by side

も (also; too)

mo (also) · JLPT N5

Meaning
"also / too / even"; with negative: "neither / not either".
Formation
Noun + も (replaces は・が・を)Noun + も + Noun + も (both ... and ...)に／で／へ + も (にも, でも, へも — stacks, does not replace)何も／誰も／どこも + negative (nothing / nobody / nowhere)

  1. 私も学生です。

    わたしも がくせいです。

    I am a student too.

  2. コーヒーも紅茶も飲みます。

    コーヒーも こうちゃも のみます。

    I drink both coffee and tea.

Full lesson on も (also; too)

でも (however) ／ でも (even, or something)

demo · JLPT N5

Meaning
(1) Sentence-initial でも = "but / however". (2) Noun + でも = "even ~" or "~ or something" (a casual suggestion).
Formation
。でも、…　／　Noun + でも

  1. 昨日は雨でした。でも、サッカーをしました。

    きのうは あめでした。でも、サッカーを しました。

    It rained yesterday. But we played football.

  2. お茶でも飲みませんか。

    おちゃでも のみませんか。

    Would you like some tea or something?

Full lesson on でも (however) ／ でも (even, or something)

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between も (also; too) and でも (however) ／ でも (even, or something)?

Question word + でも = "any" (何でも anything); question word + も + negative = "none" (何も nothing).

When do you use でも (however) ／ でも (even, or something) instead of も (also; too)?

何も + negative = nothing; 何でも = anything.