{{Grammar Box}} 

In English we might want to say something like "I have absolutely no money, not even one penny." That "not even one" is the focus of this article. 

== Basic Usage ==

=== Structure ===

This structure is usually used for emphasizing how little of something you have. The measure word in the middle of the sentence and the noun should be compatible with the verb at the end. 

<div class="jiegou">

一 + Measure Word + (Noun) + 也 / 都 + 不 / 没 + Verb

</div>

=== Examples ===

<div class="liju">

* 我 <em>一</em> 口 <em>都</em> 没 吃 。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>yī</em> kǒu <em>dōu</em> méi chī.</span><span class="trans">I didn't take a single bite.</span>
* 他 <em>一</em> 句 中文 <em>都</em> 不 会 说 。 <span class="pinyin">Tā <em>yī</em> jù Zhōngwén <em>dōu</em> bù huì shuō.</span><span class="trans">He can't speak one sentence of Chinese.</span>
* 为什么 这里 <em>一</em> 个 人 <em>都</em> 没有 ？ <span class="pinyin">Wèishénme zhèlǐ <em>yī</em> gè rén <em>dōu</em> méiyǒu? </span><span class="trans">Why aren't there any people here? </span>
* 她 <em>一</em> 瓶 酒 <em>也</em> 没 喝 。 <span class="pinyin">Tā <em>yī</em> píng jiǔ <em>yě</em> méi hē.</span><span class="trans">She didn't drink a bottle of wine.</span>
* 来 上海 以前 ， 他 <em>一</em> 个 外国 朋友 <em>都</em> 没有 。 <span class="pinyin">Lái Shànghǎi yǐqián, tā <em>yī</em> gè wàiguó péngyou <em>dōu</em> méiyǒu.</span><span class="trans">He didn't have a foreign friend before he came to Shanghai.</span>

</div>

== Advanced Usage ==

=== Structure ===

If you want to put the [[Topic-comment sentences|topic]] of your conversation at the beginning of the sentence, make sure it has a strong emphasis or some kind of exaggerated remark. 

<div class="jiegou">

Topic + Subj. + 一 + Measure Word + (Noun) + 也 / 都 + Verb

</div>

=== Examples ===

<div class="liju">

* <strong>这个 人</strong> 我 <em>一</em> 次 <em>都</em> 没 见 过 。 <span class="pinyin"><strong>Zhège rén </strong>wǒ <em>yī</em> cì <em>yě</em> méi jiàn guo.</span><span class="trans">I haven't seen this person once.</span>
* <strong>这样 的 菜</strong> 我 <em>一</em> 次 <em>也</em> 没 吃 过 。<span class="pinyin"><strong>Zhèyàng de cài </strong> wǒ <em>yī</em> cì <em>yě</em> méi chī guo.</span><span class="trans">I've never eaten this kind of food before.</span>
* <strong>这 次 活动</strong> 我们 公司 <em>一</em>个 人 <em>也</em> 没 参加 。 <span class="pinyin"><strong>Zhè cì huódòng </strong>wǒmen gōngsī <em>yī</em> gè rén <em>yě</em> méi cānjiā.</span><span class="trans">Not one person in our company has participated in this activity.</span>

</div>

==See also==

*[["Not at all"]]

== Sources and further reading ==

=== Books ===

* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3)]](p.153) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/756191251X/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=756191251X →buy]
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 37 - 9) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276709/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276709 →buy]

=== Dictionaries ===

=== Websites ===

[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
{{Basic Grammar|一|B1|一 + Measure Word + (Noun) + 也 / 都 + Verb|<em>一</em> 句 中文 <em>都</em> 不 会 说。|grammar point|ASGUQ861}}
{{Rel char|也}}
{{Rel char|都}}
{{Similar|"Not at all"}}   
{{Used for|Describing things}}
{{Structure|Sentence Patterns}}