Introducing the Usage of adverbs “也” and “都

In this video we discuss the position of the adverb “也yě （also or too） ” and “都dōu （both or all）”. Especially pay attention to the position of the adverb “都dōu ”. It has different meanings in different positions in the negative form.

• Subject + 也yě +Verb / Adjective

For example：

王小宝是英国人， George也是英国人。

Wáng xiǎobǎo shì yīngguórén, George yě shì yīngguo rén。

Wang Xiaobao is British, and George is British too.

David很高兴，Lucy也很高兴。

David hěn gāoxìng, Lucy yě hěn gāoxìng.

David is happy, Lucy is also happy.

• Subject + 都dōu +Verb / Adjective

他们都很高兴。

Tāmen dōu hěn gāoxìng.

They are all happy.

他们都是英国人。

“Tāmen dōu shì Yīngguórén”.

They are all British.

• The negative form：

Subject + 也yě +不+ Verb / Adjective

Lucy也不喜欢吃蛋糕。

Lucy yě bù xǐhuān chī dàngāo。

Lucy doesn’t like cakes, either.

Subject + 都dōu +不+ Verb / Adjective

他们都不喜欢吃蛋糕。

Tāmen dōu bù xǐhuān chī dàngāo。

None of them like cakes.

Subject +不+ 都dōu + Verb / Adjective

他们不都喜欢吃蛋糕。

Tāmen bù dōu xǐhuān chī dàngāo。

Not all of them like cakes.

The following is Chinese and English Version of Situational Dialogue in the Video：

西西：王小宝，明天是你的生日，对吧？

王小宝：对啊，你来参加我的生日聚会吧。

西西：好啊，David也来吗？

王小宝：是啊，我们一起吃中国菜。

西西：好的，你会用筷子吗？

王小宝：当然，我会用筷子，David也会用筷子。

西西：嗯，我们都会用筷子。

Xixi: Wáng Xiǎobǎo，tomorrow is your birthday, right?

Wang Xiaobao: Right. Why don’t you come to my birthday party?

Xixi: Sure. Is David coming?

Wang Xiaobao: Yes. We are going to eat some Chinese food.

Xixi: Great. Do you know how to use chopsticks?

Wang Xiaobao: Of course! I know how to use chopsticks, so does David.

Xixi: Well, we all know how to use chopsticks.

© Shanghai International Studies University