Question Word + 都 (every / all)
IntroducedNegation changes a whole-set claim
- Everyone in the relevant group knows the answer.
- who谁all都know知道。 — who谁all都 covers every person in the understood group.
Everyone in the relevant group knows the answer. What does 谁都知道。 communicate?
谁都 covers every person in the understood group. 谁都不知道 negates knowing for everyone and means nobody knows. 不是什么都知道 means not knowing everything; the negative's position changes the scope.
Build the form
- The pattern in this lesson is Question Word + all都 (every / all). Locate it in the original interlinear examples below.
- Keep the words in their demonstrated positions; the pattern must fit the intended situation as well as the sentence form.
who谁all都know知道。
Using the lesson pattern in this demonstrated example: Everyone knows: 谁 ____ 知道。
QW + 都 + Predicate = every / all: 谁都知道 (everyone knows).
Read examples in context
I我anything什么all都not不want想eat吃。
- In the opening example, who谁all都know知道。: who谁all都 covers every person in the understood group.
- Explain who acts, what is described and which time or group is relevant before choosing an English paraphrase.
What does 什么都不想吃 mean?
QW + 都 + 不 = not any: 什么都不想吃 (don't want to eat anything).
Build: “Everyone knows.”
QW + 都 + Predicate: 谁 + 都 + 知道.
Know the boundary
- who谁all都not不know知道 negates knowing for everyone and means nobody knows.
- no不是anything什么all都know知道 means not knowing everything; the negative's position changes the scope.
QW + 都 + 不 / 没 expresses “none / not any”.
Yes: 谁都不知道 (nobody knows), 什么都没买 (didn't buy anything).
In the opening situation: 谁都 covers every person in the understood group.
谁都不知道 negates knowing for everyone and means nobody knows. 不是什么都知道 means not knowing everything; the negative's position changes the scope. 谁都 covers every person in the understood group.
Use the distinction
- who谁all都 covers every person in the understood group.
- who谁all都not不know知道 negates knowing for everyone and means nobody knows. no不是anything什么all都know知道 means not knowing everything; the negative's position changes the scope.
Read the full reference: HSK 3 grammar — Basic sentence patterns.
Everyone in the relevant group knows the answer. Close the examples. Say a Mandarin response, then write it in Chinese. Explain briefly in English what the lesson’s pattern adds. Compare with the model, then change one detail and try again.
This is supported productive practice. Compare meaning and structure; your answer need not copy the model. A partner or teacher must hear the spoken response to comment on pronunciation.