Too / Either
Adding a positive or negative comment
Too/ Either
| AND…TOO | AND…NOT EITHER |
|---|---|
After mentioning a positive idea or fact, add another positive comment with and… too. (conjunctive expression) |
After mentioning a negative idea or fact, add another negative comment with and… not either. (conjunctive expression) |
POSITIVE I am eight today, and my cousin is too. |
NEGATIVE I am not a child, and my cousin isn't either. |
I am waiting for our new school to open, and my cousin is too. (present) |
I am not worrying, and my cousins aren't either. |
I have a new reader (book), and my classmates do too / have too (Br-Eng) |
I don't have a desk, and my classmates don't either/ haven't either (Br-Eng) |
I wished for a new school, and my parents did too. (past) |
I didn't want to be uneducated, and my friends didn't either. |
I will work very hard, and my classmates will too. (modal verb) |
I won't be late, and my classmates won't either. |
Too / Either (adv.) — See Adv for Focus.
Too / Either
Polarity
Positive and Negative Responses in Agreement
| A POSITIVE STATEMENT | A NEGATIVE STATEMENT |
|---|---|
A sentence with a positive verb is "positive" even if the meaning is negative. We use too when adding a comment of agreement to the following: |
A sentence with a negative verb is "negative" even if the meaning is positive. We use either when adding a comment of agreement to the following: |
POSITIVE VERB – POSITIVE MEANING I like this book, and he does too. |
NEGATIVE VERB – POSITIVE MEANING I can't help reading this book, and he can't either. like, can't stop |
I look forward to beginning school, and my friends do too. |
I can't wait to begin school, and she can't either. eagerly anticipate, look forward to |
POSITIVE VERB – NEGAITIVE MEANING I dislike this book, and they do too. |
NEGATIVE VERB – NEGATIVE MEANING I can't stand reading this book, and she can't either. dislike |
I avoid / detest watching that movie, and they do too. |
I can't bear watching that movie again, and I can't either. cannot tolerate |
POSITIVE ADVERB – POSITIVE MEANING They truly believe what he is saying, and I do too. (always, usually, mostly, never / totally, utterly, completely / confidently, assuredly, reasonably, logically) |
NEGATIVE ADVERB – NEGATIVE MEANING They hardly believe what he is saying, and I don't either. (seldom, rarely, never / barely, scarcely) |
POSITIVE PRONOUN – POSITIVE MEANING Everyone believes me, he does too. |
NEGATIVE PRONOUN – NEGATIVE MEANING No one believes me, and he doesn't either. (nobody, not any one, none of them, not one person, hardly anyone) |
Too / Either
Short responses
Short Responses of Agreement
| TOO | NOT EITHER | ||
|---|---|---|---|
We can use too to add a comment of agreement after someone makes a positive statement. |
We can use either to add a comment of agreement after someone makes a negative statement. |
||
POSITIVE I am excited. (be verb) |
Me too! (informal) |
NEGATIVE I am not worried. |
Me either! (informal) |
I have a backpack. (have verb) |
Me too! (informal) |
I do not have a backpack. |
Me either! (informal) |
I would like a desk. (modal verb) |
Me too! (informal) |
I would not like to sit on the floor. |
Me either! (informal) |
I hoped for a new school. (past verb) |
Me too. |
I did not like the old one. |
Me either. (informal) |
Me too (informal speech) – is more commonly used in a present, immediate context, less commonly for an activity or action in the past.
But Not Too
Indicating restrictions
But… Not…Too
| BUT NOT TOO | EITHER X or Y |
|---|---|
After mentioning a positive idea or fact, we can add a negative point using but not…too. |
We can offer a choice between two items with either X or Y. "Select one". |
You can take a cookie, but you can't take a cupcake too. |
You can take either a cookie or a cupcake. (a choice of one item) |
He's drinking a lot, but at least he isn't driving too. |
You can either drink or drive as much as you like. (a choice of one activity) |
You can have your cake, but you can't eat it too. |
You can either have your cake or you can eat it. (a choice of one activity |
"You can't have your cake and eat it too." (expression) – You have to make choices in life.
Common Mistakes
Errors and Solutions
| ERROR | SOLUTION |
|---|---|
I'm not going, and he isn't going neither. |
I'm not going, and he isn't either. (Also see neither…nor) |
"I thought he was dead." |
"I thought he was dead.." |
I can't wait for the opening, and they can't too / also / as well. (verb + not) |
I can't wait for the opening, and they can't either. |
"I can hardly believe my eyes! " (negative adverb) |
"I can hardly believe my eyes! " |
"No one helped me." (negative pronoun) |
"No one helped me." |
Practice 1
Storytelling
Adding a point of agreement
- Select the response from the list that best completes the sentence.
- Compare your response to the answer by clicking the "check" button.
Practice 2
Setting limits (rules)
- Select the response from the list that best completes the sentence.
- Compare your response to the answer by clicking the "check" button.