Cannot say 'me too!' for negative meanings?

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Peaceblinkfriend

#543495 Sat, 19 Jul 08 12:13 PM

Am I correct that you would only say 'me too' if what you are replying to is positive?

For example,

A: I can't do that. I just don't have the experience.

B: ( B can't say 'me too', right? )

Thank you.

PBF

Peaceblinkfriend

Joined on Wed, May 9 2007

Australia

Contributing Member (1,485)

Nothing is impossible to a willing heart. But I finally realised that it is really impossible if you don't put your money where your mouth is.

Negatives

Gencebay90

#543497 Sat, 19 Jul 08 12:19 PM

Actually we shouldn't say "Me too" in responsing to a negative question because "too" is used for positive responses in the meaning of as well but I am not sure; a native will express it better. It may be, however, possible in spoken English. In spoken language nothing is impossible

:)

Gencebay90

Joined on Sun, Sep 2 2007

Turkey

Junior Member (82)

In a corner of every heart is a wounded place

Negatives

optilang

#543500 Sat, 19 Jul 08 12:40 PM

Peaceblinkfriend
Am I correct that you would only say 'me too' if what you are replying to is positive?

For example,

A: I can't do that. I just don't have the experience.

B: ( B can't say 'me too', right? )

Thank you.

PBF

I like that. - Me too.

A: I can't do that. I just don't have the experience. - Neither can I/Neither have I.

optilang

Joined on Tue, May 13 2008

Poland

Senior Member (2,100)

OptiNative British English Speaker Wherever I may roam, I'm still a Londoner.

Negatives

Huevos

#543506 Sat, 19 Jul 08 01:07 PM

Peaceblinkfriend
Am I correct that you would only say 'me too' if what you are replying to is positive?

The negative equivalent of "me too" is "me neither".

Huevos

Joined on Tue, Mar 25 2008

Spain

Full Member (444)

British Native

Negatives

Peaceblinkfriend

#543508 Sat, 19 Jul 08 01:16 PM

Ah I see. Thanks for the clarification. So 'me too' really means 'I like that'. Can 'me too' mean 'same here' too?

Thanks again

PBF

[edit] Just to clarify, I composed this post before Huevos replied. That of course doesn't exclude Huevos from the 'thanks'.

Peaceblinkfriend

Negatives

Kooyeen

#543521 Sat, 19 Jul 08 02:03 PM

Yes, you need "Me neither" when you answer to something negative (Or "neither do I", "neither can I", etc.)

I'm not sure about "same here", but I suspect it can sometimes be used with both positive and negative sentences. I'm not completely sure though.
I'm tired. - Me too / Same here
I'm not tired. - Me neither / Same here

Smile

Kooyeen

Joined on Thu, Dec 22 2005

Italy

Senior Member (3,832)

If you don't have a sense of humor already, it's about time you buy one.

Negatives

Gencebay90

#543522 Sat, 19 Jul 08 02:11 PM

I'm tired. - Me too / Same here
I'm not tired. - Me neither / Same here

I've heard "sama here" for the first time :), and it seems correct to me for both negative and positive

:)

Gencebay90

Negatives

Peaceblinkfriend

#543567 Sat, 19 Jul 08 04:22 PM

Thanks for all of your replies.

So when replying to something positive, we say 'me too'. But when replying to something negative, we say 'neither do I' or other 'neither's'.

PBF

Peaceblinkfriend

Negatives

Philip

#543568 Sat, 19 Jul 08 04:24 PM

"Me neither" jars my ear, so I prefer "neither do [or whatever verb] I".
I can't speak Chinese > neither can I [rather than 'me neither]
I don't want to see that movie > neither do I [rather than 'me neither']
She isn't very intelligent > neither am I [rather than 'me neither']

Just a humorous observation here about me too.
Comments at the end of a phone conversation:
A. I love you.
B. Me too.

Of course, B means "I love you, too"; but technically B is saying, "I love me, too". (:D) Big Smile

Philip

Joined on Thu, Jun 23 2005

USA Pacific Northwest (Seattle)

Veteran Member (5,949)

At reise er at leve! - H. C. Andersen

Verbs, Conversations, Negatives

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