All + N + 都
HSK 4- Emphasis
Structure (结构 jiégòu)
Meaning (意思 yìsi)
The structure '所有...都' is used to emphasize that all members of a group share a common characteristic or action.
Explanation (解释 jiěshì)
The structure 所有...都 is used to emphasize the meaning of "all, every/entire." 所有 means "all" and is used to gather a group of subjects together. 的 may or may not be present, and is often omitted when the noun is short.
The most important point is that 所有 almost always pairs with the adverb 都. 都 comes before a verb or adjective and serves to "clinch" the statement that the action or quality applies to the entire group mentioned, without exception — no person or thing excluded.
Examples (例句 lìjù)(5)
- 所有人都来了。繁: 所有人都來了。Suǒyǒu rén dōu lái le.
Everyone has arrived.
- 所有的问题都解决了。繁: 所有的問題都解決了。Suǒyǒu de wèntí dōu jiějué le.
All the problems have been resolved.
- 所有学生都喜欢这位老师。繁: 所有學生都喜歡這位老師。Suǒyǒu xuéshēng dōu xǐhuān zhè wèi lǎoshī.
All students like this teacher.
- 所有的房间都很干净。繁: 所有的房間都很乾淨。Suǒyǒu de fángjiān dōu hěn gānjìng.
All the rooms are very clean.
- 所有的菜我都想尝尝。繁: 所有的菜我都想嚐嚐。Suǒyǒu de cài wǒ dōu xiǎng chángchang.
I want to taste all the dishes.
Common mistakes
- Wrong:所有学生喜欢这位老师。Correct:所有学生都喜欢这位老师。
The structure 所有 always requires the adverb 都 to complete the meaning "all...all..."; without 都 the sentence sounds unnatural.
- Wrong:都所有的人来了。Correct:所有的人都来了。
都 is an adverb that must come before a verb or adjective, not before 所有.