Too or Either?
To say "me too", look at the other person's sentence. Is it positive or negative?
AFTER A POSITIVEtoo · so · me too
I like coffee. — I like it too.
AFTER A NEGATIVEeither · neither · me neither
I don't drink beer. — I don't drink it either.
After a positive sentence, use too or so. After a negative sentence, use either or neither.
TRY IT
- Question 1
"I don't eat pork." "I don't eat it blank."
The forms
SO + HELPER VERB + SUBJECT
Soam / do / did / have / canS
My brother works in a bank. — So does my sister.
The helper verb comes before the subject.
NEITHER + HELPER VERB + SUBJECT
Neitheram / do / did / have / canS
I've never been to Sa Pa. — Neither have I.
Neither is already negative: have, not haven't.
SHORT REPLIES
Me too·Me neither
I'm not hungry yet. — Me neither.
Casual. In American speech you will also hear Me either.
The helper verb is the small verb that makes questions: am, is, do, did, have, can, will.
I'm… → So am I · I like… → So do I · I went… → So did I · I can't… → Neither can I
TRY IT
- Question 1
"I went to bed late last night." "So blank I."
- Question 2
"I can't find my phone charger." "blank can I."
When to use them
Finding something in common
I'm from Nghệ An. — Really? So am I!
Meeting someone new at an English class.
Ordering food
I'll have the chicken rice. — So will I.
The first sentence has will, so the reply uses will.
Disagreeing politely
I don't like horror films. — Oh, I do!
Subject + helper verb, turned around: they don't, you do.
Common mistakes
Incorrect:I don't like it too.
Correct:I don't like it either.
Too is for positive sentences. After don't, use either.
Incorrect:I love phở. — So am I.
Correct:I love phở. — So do I.
Love has no helper verb, so borrow do.
Incorrect:I can't swim. — Neither can't I.
Correct:I can't swim. — Neither can I.
Neither is already negative. Drop the n't.
Incorrect:I'm hungry. — So I am.
Correct:I'm hungry. — So am I.
For me too, am comes before I.
Incorrect:I went to Đà Lạt last summer. — So do I.
Correct:I went to Đà Lạt last summer. — So did I.
The first sentence is past, so use did.
Quick check · 5 questions
Choose the correct helper verb:
"I've finished my homework." "So have I."
- A. have — Correct
- B. did
- C. am
Answer: A. have
I've finished is the present perfect. So repeats its helper verb, have.
Choose the correct word:
"Hoa doesn't eat seafood." "My mum doesn't either."
- A. either — Correct
- B. too
- C. neither
Answer: A. either
Doesn't is already negative. Neither after doesn't would make it negative twice.
Choose the correct words:
"I won't be at the meeting tomorrow." "Neither will I."
- A. will I — Correct
- B. won't I
- C. I will
Answer: A. will I
Neither is already negative, so use will, not won't. Will comes before I.
You do not like K-dramas. Choose the correct reply:
"I love K-dramas." "Oh, I don't. They're too long for me."
- A. I don't — Correct
- B. I'm not
- C. neither do I
Answer: A. I don't
Love uses do. They love it, you don't: I don't.
Choose the correct helper verb:
"My dad works at night." "So does my uncle."
- A. does — Correct
- B. is
- C. do
Answer: A. does
My uncle = he, so So does my uncle. There is no be in the first sentence.
See whether it really stuck.
Start the quiz · 14 questions