也 and 都
Using 也 (yě, also) and 都 (dōu, all/both) as adverbs before the verb
I can use 也 (also) and 都 (all) correctly before verbs
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
我也喜欢茶。
I also like tea.
我们都学中文。
We all study Chinese.
他们也都来了。
They also all came.
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
也和都 — Also and All/Both
The adverbs 也 (yě, also) and 都 (dōu, all/both) always go before the verb, never after.
| Adverb | Position | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 也 | Subj + 也 + Verb | 我也喜欢 wǒ yě xǐhuan | I also like... |
| 都 | Subj + 都 + Verb | 我们都去 wǒmen dōu qù | We all go |
| 也都 | Subj + 也都 + Verb | 他们也都来了 tāmen yě dōu lái le | They also all came |
Order rule: When combined, 也 comes before 都: 也都 (correct) vs *都也 (wrong).
Common Error Patterns
Placed 也 or 都 after the verb instead of before
也 and 都 always go before the verb: 我也喜欢 (correct), not *我喜欢也 (wrong)
Used 都也 instead of 也都
When combining: 也 comes first, then 都: 也都 (correct), not *都也
我也喜欢茶。
I also like tea.
我也喜欢茶 (wǒ yě xǐhuan chá) — 也 goes before the verb 喜欢. *我喜欢也茶 is wrong.
我们都学中文。
We all study Chinese.
我们都学中文 (wǒmen dōu xué zhōngwén) — 都 summarizes the subject (we = all of us) and precedes the verb.
他们也都来了。
They also all came.
他们也都来了 (tāmen yě dōu lái le) — when combining, order is fixed: 也 before 都. *都也 is wrong.
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises