Mr.Maru: What do you want to eat for dinner tonight?

Sparky: Let's eat a plate of bacon with some cheese on top.

Mr.Maru: I think that isn't very healthy.

Sparky: Really? I don't think so, neither.

Mr.Maru: Um, right, I think a nice salad is better for you.

Sparky: Oh, all right. I don't think we should go to McBurgers though.

Mr.Maru: Me neither. I can't eat their food.

Sparky: Me either.

(NOTE: Sparky is using incorrect English.)

When do we use neither? When do we use either? Last year, I went over neither and either in separate articles, but this time we are going to look at how we can agree to negative sentences with these two words. Let's go over some of the rules and examples.

Definition of Either

The word 'either' means also, too, as well in negative situations only. We can not use this word in a positive sentence. For example,

A: I can't swim.
B: I can't swim, either. (NOT I can't swim, too)

A: I can swim.
B: I can swim, too. (NOT I can swim, either)

Definition of Neither

The word 'neither' means not either. We can use this word as a shortened way to agree to a negative statement. For example,

A: I can't dance
B: Me neither. = I can't dance, either.

A: I don't think tomatoes taste very good.
B: Me neither. = I don't think tomatoes taste very good, either.

In informal English, speakers will sometimes say 'me either'. Some people consider this to be incorrect, but it is still used. For example,

A: I don't want to go fishing today.
B: Me either.

The most correct answer is 'me neither'. The phrase 'me either' is mostly used in America.

Do you think you understand? Let's take a short quiz.

1) A: I like to study English.

B: Really? Me _______.

A) either

B) neither
C) too

2) A: I don't like to do the dishes.

B: Yeah, me _______.

A) either

B) neither
C) too

3) A: I don't mind cleaning the bathroom.

B: Yeah, I don't mind, ________.

A) either
B) neither
C) too

Answers

1. – C) – For positive sentences, we must use 'too' not 'either' or 'neither'.
2. – B) – We are agreeing to a negative sentence so we must use 'neither'.
3. – A) – Speaker B uses a negative, the word 'not', and so we only need 'neither'.

That's all for this week. Thanks for stopping by. If you have a question about grammar, please email me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it