なにも～ません

When to use

'Nothing': なにも needs a negative verb (なにも食べませんでした). With an affirmative, なんでも.

Explanation

The grammar point なにも～ません is used to express the idea of 'not anything' or 'nothing' in negative sentences. It is placed before the verb in its negative form (～ません).

• 昨日きのうはなにも食たべませんでした。

  I didn't eat anything yesterday.

  Kinou wa nanimo tabemasen deshita.

• 彼かれはなにも話はなしません。

  He doesn't say anything.

  Kare wa nanimo hanashimasen.

• この部屋へやではなにも見みえません。

  I cannot see anything in this room.

  Kono heya de wa nanimo miemasen.

• 彼女かのじょはなにも買かいませんでした。

  She didn't buy anything.

  Kanojo wa nanimo kaimasen deshita.

Other forms

• なにも～ないですPolitenessN5

What (Something / Anything / Nothing / How Many)

• なに～nani~N5Asking about 'what' or 'which' in Japanese
• なん～nan~N5Used to form interrogative questions and emphasize the…
• なにか～nanika～N5Indicates 'something' or 'some kind of'.
• なんでも～nandemo～N5Means 'any', 'anything', 'anyone'.
• なんで～nande～N5Asking the reason or cause; 'why', 'how come'.
• いくつ～ikutsu~N5Used to express 'how many' or ask for the number of…

Compare when to use each