一 … 也 / 都 … 不 / 没 (not even one)
Zero, said dramatically
- To say "not a single …", Chinese wraps the noun in a frame.
- 一个person人also也not have / haven't没有 = "there isn't a single person."
- one / a一 + Measure + also也 / all / both都 + not不 / not / haven't没 = "not even one".
one / a一 + Measure + also也 / all / both都 + not不 / not / haven't没 + Verb
- The one / a一…also也 / all / both都… frame emphasises a complete zero.
one一(measure word)个person人even也there isn't没有。
- 一个person人also也not have / haven't没有 = "there isn't a single person."
Practice
Not a single person: 一个人 ____ 没有。
一 + Measure + 也 / 都 + 没 + Verb = not even one: 一个人也没有.
Practice
The 一…也 / 都… frame stresses a complete zero (none / not at all).
Yes — it emphasises an absolute zero: 一个也没有, 一点也不累.
Practice
Build: “There isn't a single person.”
一 + Measure + 也 + 没有: 一个人 + 也 + 没有.
Also "not at all"
- a bit一点also也not不 + Adj = "not … at all": a bit一点also也不累.
I我a bit一点even也not不tired累。
- a bit一点also也不累 = "not tired at all."
Explore
Correct or broken?
一 + measure + 也/都 + negative = not even one — the frame needs every piece.
Practice
What does 一点也不累 mean?
一点也不 + Adj = not … at all: 一点也不累.
Recap
Key idea
- one / a一 + Measure + also也 / all / both都 + not不 / not / haven't没 + Verb — "not even one"
- 一个person人also也not have / haven't没有 (not a single person)
- a bit一点also也not不 + Adj = "not … at all": a bit一点also也不累
Read the full reference: HSK 3 grammar — Sentence patterns.