In English conversation, when we respond to a speaker, we often do not repeat all of their words. Instead, we may say just a few words. The speaker understands our meaning based on what is being said in the conversation.

You will hear and see examples of this everywhere that English is spoken.

On the American television show The Simpsons, for instance, Bart Simpson is a rebellious youth. He likes to play tricks on others. His favorite person to trouble is Groundskeeper Willie, an unpleasant man who works on the grounds at Bart's school.

Everyday Grammar: Too and Either: Short Responses of Agreement

Listen to a short exchange between Bart and Willie:Willie, I've got a girlfriend.Really? Well, uh, I do, too. She's...a bikini model from Sweden.Haha, that's great.

Bart walks away, seemingly not believing Willie. But suddenly, Willie's beautiful Swedish girlfriend appears.

You heard Willie say, "I do, too" in response to Bart. English speakers everywhere use short responses like this one in speech and some kinds of writing.

On an earlier Everyday Grammar program, we talked about using the words "so" and "neither" in short responses of agreement. Today, I will talk about "too" and "either."

All four words can be used to say that what is true for some person is also true for us.

The word "too" shows agreement with positive statements. And the word "either" shows agreement with negative statements. You will hear and see examples of both today.

How are they formed?

But first, let's talk about how to form these statements. When we use "too" and "either" to show agreement, they appear at the end.

The structure for "too" is:

Subject + Auxiliary / Be + Too

Auxiliary verbs are helping verbs that do things like help form verb tenses. The verbs "do," "be" and "have," for example, can act as auxiliary verbs or main verbs, depending on how they are used.

In Willie's statement "I do, too," the word "I" is the subject and "do" is the auxiliary. "Too" comes at the end and, in written form, often follows a comma.

The structure for "either" is:

Subject + Auxiliary / Be + Either

If Bart had said, "I don't have a girlfriend" and that was also true for Willie, his response could have been, "I don't either."

When we use "too" and "either" this way, the verb tense in the response matches the verb tense in the original statement.

I do, too / I don't either

Let's look at the simple present verb tense first and I will show you what I mean.

We can say "I do, too" and "I don't either" to agree with statements in the simple present tense.

Listen to an exchange between speakers:

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We use short responses of agreement with most verb tenses and some modal verbs. Below are a few examples.

Verbs

Examples

Use "have" or has" for present perfect

They have been to Cartagena.I have, too.

They haven't been to Cartagena.I haven't either.

Use "will" or "won't" for simple future

Ivone will return the clothes tomorrow.I will, too.

Ivone won't return the clothes tomorrow.I won't either.

For modal verbs, repeat just the modal ("would" "can" "should" and others)

I would enjoy playing an instrument.I would, too.

I wouldn't enjoy playing an instrument.I wouldn't either.

She can stand on her hands.I can, too.

She can't stand on her hands.I can't either.

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