彼女はそのことを何も知らないようです

Davide92

後輩

8 May 2017

96

4

• 20 Jun 2017

• #1

Hello everyone! I found this sententence in my textbook:
彼女はそのことを何も知らないようです

and this is the translation they offer:
She seems to know nothing about it.

The grammar just doesn't make sense to me, because it feels like there are two distinct direct objects (そのことを and 何も). I would have expected something like そのことについて instead of そのことを.
Thank you in advance for your help.

 

AmerikaJin5

Sempai

12 Nov 2014

174

99

• 20 Jun 2017

• #2

Since こと generally means "matter/thing", it is also used (if we think in terms of English, which is a faulty way to think for Japanese) to mean "about ~" rather than the more formal ~について.
Also, 何も is not a direct object, but a modifier for the verb 知らない.

Another example sentence with similar usage would be: 君のことが全部好きです / "I like everything about you."

 

Toritoribe

松葉解禁

Moderator

Fifteen-year veteran

22 Feb 2008

18,266

4,926

• 21 Jun 2017

• #3

Yeah, 何も is actually not an object but an adverb modifying 知らない, meaning "(not) at all" in negative sentences, as same as 全然, 全く or 少しも.

なにも【何も】 の意味
［副*］あとに打消しの語を伴う。
１ 全面的に否定する気持ちを表す。まったく。「何も知らない」
なにも【何も】［副詞］の意味 - goo国語辞書
(* 副 refers to 副詞, i.e., adverb.)

 

Davide92

後輩

8 May 2017

96

4

• 29 Jun 2017

• Thread starter
• #4

Yeah it makes sense now. AmerikaJin5, Toritoribe, thanks a lot!