Expressing 'also' with '도'

01

Replacing Subject and Topic Markers

When adding the meaning of "also" to the subject or topic of a sentence, 도 (dododoto) replaces the particles 은/는 (ŭn/nŭneun/nŭnŭn/nŭnun/nŭn) - Topic and 이/가 (i/ga) - Subject. You do not use both particles together.

• 저도 학생이에요.

  jŏ·do hak·sæng·i·e·yo.jeo·do hak·saeng·i·e·yo.jŏ·do hak·saeng·i·e·yo.ce·to hak·sayng·i·ey·yo.

  I am a student too.

• 노래도 좋아요.

  no·ræ·do jo·a·yo.no·rae·do jo·a·yo.no·rae·do jo·a·yo.no·lay·to co·a·yo.

  The song is good too.

02

Replacing Object Markers

Similarly, when applying "also" to the object of a verb, 도 (dododoto) replaces the object markers 을/를 (ŭl/rŭleul/rŭlŭl/rŭlul/rŭl).

• 저는 사과를 먹어요.

  jŏ·nŭn sa·gwa·rŭl mŏg·ŏ·yo.jeo·neun sa·gwa·reul meog·eo·yo.jŏ·nŭn sa·gwa·rŭl mŏg·ŏ·yo.ce·nun sa·kwa·lul meg·e·yo.

  I eat apples.

• 저는 바나나도 먹어요.

  jŏ·nŭn ba·na·na·do mŏg·ŏ·yo.jeo·neun ba·na·na·do meog·eo·yo.jŏ·nŭn ba·na·na·do mŏg·ŏ·yo.ce·nun pa·na·na·to meg·e·yo.

  I eat bananas too.

• 커피도 주세요.

  kʰŏ·pʰi·do ju·se·yo.keo·pi·do ju·se·yo.k'ŏ·p'i·do ju·se·yo.khe·phi·to cu·sey·yo.

  Please give me coffee as well.

03

Usage with Other Particles

Unlike subject and object markers, 도 (dododoto) does not replace particles related to time or location, such as 에 (eeeey) - at/to or 에서 (e·sŏe·seoe·sŏey·se) - at/from. Instead, it is attached after them. This creates combined forms like 에도 (e·doe·doe·doey·to) or 에서도 (e·sŏ·doe·seo·doe·sŏ·doey·se·to).

• 한국에도 있어요.

  han·guk·e·do i·ssŏ·yo.han·guk·e·do i·sseo·yo.han·guk·e·do i·ssŏ·yo.han·kuk·ey·to i·sse·yo.

  It exists in Korea too.

• 집에서도 일해요.

  jib·e·sŏ·do il·hæ·yo.jib·e·seo·do il·hae·yo.jib·e·sŏ·do il·hae·yo.cib·ey·se·to il·hay·yo.

  I work at home too.

• 오늘도 만나요?

  o·nŭl·do man·na·yo?o·neul·do man·na·yo?o·nŭl·do man·na·yo?o·nul·to man·na·yo?

  Are we meeting today as well?

04

Negative Sentences (Either)

In negative sentences, English changes "too" to "either" (e.g., "I don't like it either"). In Korean, you continue to use 도 (dododoto).

• 저도 몰라요.

  jŏ·do mol·la·yo.jeo·do mol·la·yo.jŏ·do mol·la·yo.ce·to mol·la·yo.

  I don't know either.

• 돈도 없어요.

  don·do ŏb·sŏ·yo.don·do eob·seo·yo.don·do ŏb·sŏ·yo.ton·to eb·se·yo.

  I don't have money either.

05

Expressing Permission (May I...?)

The structure 도 (dododoto) is combined with the verb 되다 (dwe·dadwe·dadwe·datwey·ta) - to become/to work to express permission. The literal meaning is "Even if [verb], it is okay."

To form this, conjugate the verb into the present tense (remove 요 (yo)), add 도 (dododoto), and follow with 되다 (dwe·dadwe·dadwe·datwey·ta). This is used to ask "May I...?" or state "It is okay to...".

• 가도 돼요?

  ga·do dwæ·yo?ga·do dwae·yo?ga·do dwae·yo?ka·to tway·yo?

  May I go?

• 먹어도 돼요.

  mŏg·ŏ·do dwæ·yo.meog·eo·do dwae·yo.mŏg·ŏ·do dwae·yo.meg·e·to tway·yo.

  You may eat (it).

• 여기 앉아도 돼요?

  yŏ·gi an·ja·do dwæ·yo?yeo·gi an·ja·do dwae·yo?yŏ·gi an·ja·do dwae·yo?ye·ki an·ca·to tway·yo?

  May I sit here?