Either and Neither

Learn how “either” is used in the following sentences.

1. I haven’t been to Delhi. I haven’t been to Calcutta, either.
2. My brother doesn’t read newspapers. He doesn’t listen to the news, either.
3. I can’t do it. You can’t, either.
4. She didn’t come yesterday. He didn’t, either.
5. They weren’t present. I wasn’t, either.

Negative additions to negative remarks can be made by using “neither” or “nor” and “either.”

I didn’t come yesterday.	Neither did I.
The boy hasn’t come.	The girl hasn’t, either.
I don’t care much for that fellow.	Nor do I/I don’t, either.
He won’t tell anyone else.	Nor will we.
He doesn’t speak French.	Neither do I.

Practise the following first with “neither/nor” and then with “either.”

We don’t often go to films.	Neither/Nor do we.	We don’t, either.
She hasn’t had her lunch.	Neither/Nor have I.	I haven’t, either.
He has never been to Delhi.	Neither/Nor has she.	She hasn’t, either.
I am not going to bed yet.	Neither/Nor are we.	We aren’t, either.
I can’t eat beef.	Neither/Nor can I.	I can’t, either.
She isn’t leaving tomorrow.	Neither/Nor are they.	They aren’t, either.
She won’t pay for it.	Neither/Nor will we.	We won’t, either.
They aren’t teachers.	Neither/Nor are we.	We aren’t, either.

Positive answers to positive remarks

Affirmative (or positive) additions to affirmative remarks can be made by using the appropriate auxiliary (are, is, am, do, have, can, must, etc.) with “too” or “so.”

“I believe him.” “We do, too.”
“They are studying.” “So are we.”
“The neighbours have come.” “So have my friends.”
“John came yesterday.” “I did, too.”
“Arun had left by that time.” “So had we.”
“The headmaster will be here tomorrow.” “So will the teachers.”
“She must go home now.” “I must, too.”
“I can play chess.” “So can we.”

Pay attention to the tense and choose you auxiliary accordingly. If it is present tense, use “do”; if past tense, use “did”; if present perfect, use “have,” and if past perfect, use “had.” Do not forget to insert a comma before “too.”

Practice the following first with “too” and then with “so.”

I stopped going to class.	We did, too.	So did we.
She is leaving.	I am, too.	So am I.
They will be at the meeting.	We will, too.	So will we.
I have written to him.	We have, too.	So have we.
He is a carpenter.	John is, too.	So is John.
He will speak to the boss.	They will, too.	So will they.
I ought to go there.	We ought to, too.	So ought we.
They have bought a car.	We have, too.	So have we.