Emphasis with 连…都/也

"Even...": pushing the example to the extreme

连 + element + 都/也

连 (lián) highlights an extreme case: "even X...". The emphasized element is placed before the verb, followed by 都 or 也.

连 + element + 都/也 + Verb

He left without even having eaten.

Even a child knows the answer to this question.

连…都 + negation expresses a total lack, with the smallest possible unit: "not even one...".

I don't have even a cent.

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