Sentence PatternsHSK 5
Expressing "not even one"
This pattern emphasizes that 'not even one' of something exists or occurred, using 一 + measure word + noun followed by 都/也 and a negation (不 or 没) before the verb. Use it to stress an absolute lack, with the measure word matching the noun. The negation must fit the context: 没 for past/completed actions, 不 for habitual or present states.
Structure
一 + Measure Word + Noun + 都 / 也 + 不 / 没 + Verb
Measure word must match the noun; 都 and 也 are interchangeable in this construction.
Examples
- 他一句话都没说。Tā yī jù huà dōu méi shuō.He didn't say a thing.
- 他一句中文都不会说。Tā yī jù Zhōngwén dōu bù huì shuō.He can't speak one sentence of Chinese.
- 我一口都没吃。Wǒ yī kǒu dōu méi chī.I haven't had a single bite.
- 她一瓶可乐也没喝。Tā yī píng kělè yě méi hē.She didn't drink a single bottle of cola.
- 我一点消息都不知道。Wǒ yī diǎn xiāoxi dōu bù zhīdào.I don't know a single thing.