Scope Adverbs: 都 and 也
都 (dōu, all, both) and 也 (yě, also) are scope adverbs that come before the verb and say how many people or things the statement covers. 都 sums up several subjects, and 也 adds one more.
也 (yě) = also / too — adds one more item to the list. Comes before the verb.
Key rules:
- 都 and 也 come after the subject, before the verb
- When both appear together: 也都 (also all)
- 都 looks back at plural subjects: 我们都喜欢 (we ALL like)
❌ 我们喜欢都。(wrong — 都 at end)
✅ 我们都喜欢。(correct)
Worked examples
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | What it shows |
|---|---|---|---|
| 我们都是学生。 | Wǒ men dōu shì xué shēng. | We are all students. | 都 after subject 我们, before verb 是 |
| 她也会说英语。 | Tā yě huì shuō yīng yǔ. | She can also speak English. | 也 after subject 她, before modal verb 会 |
| 他们也都喜欢足球。 | Tā men yě dōu xǐ huān zú qiú. | They also all like football. | 也都 together: also + all. Order is 也都 not 都也. |
Word by word
Each word in this pattern on its own: what it does here, the structure, three more examples, and the mistake to avoid.
都 (dōu)
Means 'all' or 'both', and it covers the people or things mentioned before it.
Structure: Subject (plural) + 都 + Verb
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 我们家的人都喜欢吃面。 | Wǒ men jiā de rén dōu xǐ huan chī miàn. | Everyone in our family likes noodles. |
| 这些书都是我的。 | Zhè xiē shū dōu shì wǒ de. | These books are all mine. |
| 他们两个都不会说英语。 | Tā men liǎng gè dōu bú huì shuō Yīng yǔ. | Neither of them can speak English. |
Not: 我们喜欢苹果都。 都 goes before the verb: 我们都喜欢苹果。
In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 1, adverbs (范围副词); level 2, adverbs (语气副词); level 4, complex sentences (条件复句); level 7-9, simple complex sentences (递进复句).
都 is also explained in: 连…都/也…: even X does Y (HSK 4) · 无论/不管…都…: regardless of (HSK 4).
也 (yě)
Means 'also' or 'too', adding one more person or fact.
Structure: Subject + 也 + Verb
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 我也是学生。 | Wǒ yě shì xué sheng. | I am a student too. |
| 他会唱歌，也会跳舞。 | Tā huì chàng gē, yě huì tiào wǔ. | He can sing and he can dance too. |
| 你去，我也去。 | Nǐ qù, wǒ yě qù. | If you go, I'll go too. |
Not: 我是学生也。 也 never ends the sentence; it goes before the verb: 我也是学生。
In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 1, adverbs (关联副词); level 3, fixed patterns.
也 is also explained in: 就是…也…: even if…still (HSK 4) · 连…都/也…: even X does Y (HSK 4).
What this opens up
These patterns list Scope Adverbs among their own prerequisites, so they become readable once this one holds.
The same pattern at other levels
- Scope Adverbs — HSK 3
- Scope adverbs — HSK 4
Questions about Scope Adverbs
What does 范围副词 (Scope Adverbs) mean in Chinese?
都 (dōu, all, both) and 也 (yě, also) are scope adverbs that come before the verb and say how many people or things the statement covers. 都 sums up several subjects, and 也 adds one more. It is an HSK 1 grammar point.
How do you use 范围副词 (Scope Adverbs) in a sentence?
我们都是学生。 — Wǒ men dōu shì xué shēng. — We are all students. 都 after subject 我们, before verb 是.
Where does 范围副词 (Scope Adverbs) come in the HSK sequence?
HSK 1, and none of its prerequisites are grammar points — nothing else on this reference has to come first, so you can start here.
What does 范围副词 (Scope Adverbs) lead to?
Question Words as Non-Questions (HSK 3). Each of them names 范围副词 (Scope Adverbs) among its own prerequisites.
In what order do I put 也 and 都?
也 comes first: 他们也都是老师。 means 'They are all teachers too.' 都也 is not used.
Can 都 and 也 come before the subject?
No. Both sit after the subject and before the verb, so say 我们都去 and not 都我们去。
Scope Adverbs is one topic of 829. GraphChinese teaches them in prerequisite order, so this pattern reaches you on the day everything it rests on is proven. The whole course, HSK 0 through HSK 6, is $49 once for lifetime access.
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