So, too, either, neither: this is often used as a reply to someone else in a conversation, but both sentences can also be said by the same person, and even joined together.
|
POSITIVE SENTENCE, TOO |
SO + AUXILIARY + SUBJECT Auxiliary (do/ does/ have/ should/…) |
|
|---|---|---|
|
Person A |
Person B |
Person B |
|
I love football. |
I love football, too. |
So do I. |
|
Jack can swim. |
I can swim, too. |
So can I. |
|
Hana and Jim have done their tasks. |
I have done my tasks, too. |
So have I. |
- Either and neither are used in negative sentences to mean “too.”
(1) I can’t come to the party.
I can’t either.
Neither can I.Although either and neither are both used as a “negative too”, they follow different rules:
- Either is combined with a negative verb and comes last in the sentence.
(2) Mary did not pass the exam. John did not either.
- Neither is combined with a positive verb and comes first in the sentence and is followed by the verb. The subject comes third.
(3) Mary did not pass the exam. Neither did John.
It is wrong to combine neither with a negative verb.
(4) John did not neither. [incorrect!]
(5) Neither did not John. [incorrect!]It is wrong to use too or as well in a negative sentence.
(6) John did not too. [incorrect!]
(7) John did not as well. [incorrect!] - Either is combined with a negative verb and comes last in the sentence.
|
NEGATIVE SENTENCE, EITHER. |
NEITHER + AUXILIARY + SUBJECT Auxiliary (do/ does/ have/ should/…) |
|
|---|---|---|
|
Person A |
Person B |
Person B |
|
I don’t love football. |
I don’t (love football), either. |
Neither do I. |
|
Jack can’t swim. |
I can’t (swim), either. |
Neither can I. |
|
Hana and Jim haven’t done their tasks. |
I haven’t (done my tasks), either. |
Neither have I. |