The adverb of scope 都

In Chinese, 都 (dōu) means “all”, “every one of them”.

Whatever 都 sums up stands before it.

Basic structure

The summed-up part + 都 + verb

Meaning: all of them …

In the negative, the negation comes after 都.

The summed-up part + 都 + 不 / 没 + verb

我(Wǒ)们(men)都(dōu)会(huì)写(xiě)了(le)。

We can all write now.

我们 + 都 + 会写 we + all + can write

我(wǒ)们(men)we

都(dōu)all of us

会(huì)写(xiě)can write

Here 都 sums up 我们 — all of us.

我(Wǒ)和(hé)我(wǒ)的(de)朋(péng)友(you)们(men)都(dōu)去(qù)。

My friends and I are all going.

我和我的朋友们 + 都 + 去 my friends and I + all + go

我(wǒ)和(hé)我(wǒ)的(de)朋(péng)友(you)们(men)my friends and I

都(dōu)all

去(qù)go

Here 都 sums up several people.

同(Tóng)学(xué)们(men)都(dōu)没(méi)听(tīng)见(jiàn)。

None of the classmates heard it.

同学们 + 都 + 没 + 听见 the classmates + all + negation + hear

同(tóng)学(xué)们(men)the classmates

都(dōu)all

没(méi)negation

听(tīng)见(jiàn)hear

Here the negation 没 comes after 都.

Affirmative

A + 都 + verb

All of A do …

Example:

我(Wǒ)们(men)都(dōu)会(huì)写(xiě)。

We can all write.

Negative

A + 都 + 不 / 没 + verb

None of A does / did …

Example:

同(Tóng)学(xué)们(men)都(dōu)没(méi)听(tīng)见(jiàn)。

None of the classmates heard it.