誰も

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 誰も combines the interrogative pronoun 誰 with the particle も and is read だれも.
• Basic usage: With が and an affirmative predicate it can include everyone, while with a negative predicate it means no one.
  • 誰もが安心して意見を言える場を作りたいです。 expresses a wish for a place where everyone can speak without worry; 休日の早朝なので、教室には誰もいませんでした。 says that no one was in the classroom early on a holiday.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Affirmative 誰もが
  • With が and an affirmative predicate, the expression includes all people and means “everyone.”
• Negative 誰も
  • With a negative expression such as 誰もいない, it means “no one.” Do not assign one meaning without checking the predicate.
• 誰も and 誰でも
  • 誰でも(だれでも) means any person without restriction, while the interpretation of 誰も depends on its pairing with が or a negative predicate.