Meaning & usage
何も～ない expresses that not even one thing exists or happens, translated as nothing at all or not anything. It is used to deny existence, action, or feeling completely, as in 何もない or 何も食べない. 何も comes before a negative predicate, and the sentence must end with a negative form such as ない, なかった, or ません. It is a basic everyday pattern, but learners must keep the final negative or the meaning becomes positive.
Example sentences 7
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新聞には何も面白いことは載っていない。
There is nothing interesting in the newspaper.
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彼は何日も何も食べないでいることがよくある。
He often goes without food for days.
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退屈で何もすることがない。
I'm bored and I have nothing to do.
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与えるものなど何もない。
I've nothing to give.
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普段、仕事の後は疲れて何もする気がしない。
I'm usually too tired to do anything after work.
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彼はもっと頑張らないと何も成し遂げられないだろう。
He'll never achieve anything unless he works harder.
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何も知らないふりをしても無駄だ。
It is no use your pretending that you know nothing.
In past JLPT papers
This came up in 3 past exam questions.
