EITHER, NEITHER, SO, TOO: How to agree and disagree in English

Adam: Hi again. I'm Adam from www.engvid.com. Today's lesson is going

to be about agreeing and disagreeing. I know that sometimes these get a little

bit confusing, but I also... I think I understand why they get a little bit

confusing. There are many ways to agree. Okay? So, we're going to look at these

first, and then we will look at the ways to disagree. So, first: "I think so,

too". "Too" is a word used to agree. "So do I". "So" is also a word used to

agree. You have to be careful not to mix. This "so" and this "so" are two

different words. This "so" means pointing to something; the thing that

we're talking about. Okay? So, don't mix the two. So, again, we have: "too",

"too", and then very straightforward sentences: "I agree", "I think so, too",

etcetera. Now, we're going to look at these ones a little bit after — okay?

—because this is where people get a little bit confused, I think. So, I'm

going to give you a statement. And most of these expressions are used to agree

or disagree with an opinion — okay? — or some sort of belief, or whatever. So,

everybody's talking these days about the election in America. So, somebody says:

"I think Mitt Romney is going to win." Now, if you think the same; if you think

that Mitt Romney is going to win, you can say: "I think so, too". "So" means

Mitt Romney winning. Good. You can also say: "So do I", or "Me too", or "I do,

too", or "I agree". Any of these will be fine. Okay? Remember, the "so" comes

before the "do"; the "too" comes after the "do". One thing, if you want to use

one or the other: Make sure you put it in the right place. You can... you

cannot say: "I too". If you want to use only the word "too" with "me": "Me too".

"I do, too." If you want to use the "I too", you have to have the verb inside

there. Same with: "I think so, too." There's the "I too", there's the "I

too", there's the verb, there's the verb. Easy. Good. Easiest way to agree

is say: "I agree." Very straightforward. Now, we have, here, we have: "neither";

some people say: "neither" — both are okay. Choose which one you like.

"Either", "either", and the same. So, you can say: "Me neither." This is very

informal. Okay? I'll put, here, just so you remember it. Informal. Don't write

it in a business situation or a high-level meeting, for example — don't

use that. "I don't either", or "Neither do I." Now, why do you think I put these

three under agree? Many people think: "But this is a negative. It means

disagree, doesn't it?" No. It also means agree. But you agree with a negative

statement. Okay? So, if somebody says: "I think Mitt Romney is going to win",

but you don't think so, you can't say this; you must go to your disagree list.

Okay? But if somebody says: "I don't think Mitt Romney is going to win", you

can't use any of these either; you must use these. -"So, I don't think Mitt

Romney is going to win." -"Me neither", "I don't either", "Neither do I." Okay?

So, very, very important. You're agreeing with a negative. But you are

still agreeing. Okay? Very important to remember that. You're not disagreeing,

here; you're agreeing with a negative statement.

Now, if you do want to disagree with someone — someone says: "I think Mitt

Romney is going to win", but you don't think so; you think Obama is going to

win, you say the opposite: "I think Obama will win." Right? So, the easiest

way to disagree is just to say what you think. "I think differently; I think

something else from what you think." Okay? Or, very simple: "I don't", or "I

don't think so", or very simple: "I disagree." That's the easiest way to

disagree is to say: "I disagree." Makes sense, right? Now, this is not only for

opinions. Somebody... well, it is kind of an opinion, but it's a little bit

more of a judgment. Somebody says: "I like apples." Do you say: "I think so,

too"? Of course not. You can only say: "I do, too", or repeat the entire

statement: "I like apples, too." You can't use the "so" for "like". -"I like

bananas." -"So do I." -"I like strawberries." -"Me too." -"I love to

study English." -"I do too." Agree? What is "agree"? Can you agree with something

someone likes? Not really. You can agree with an opinion. Okay? So, keep that in

mind. All of these, you can use with any statement. Agree — usually with an

opinion. Now, "I don't like peanut butter." Some people don't like it. -"I

don't like peanut butter." -"Me neither." Means: I don't like peanut

butter. You say you do... You say: "I don't like pizza." I think you're

strange. But you don't like pizza; maybe I don't: "I don't either", or "Neither

do I." Now, for those of you about to take TOEFL or IELTS, I'll give you

another word. I'll put it here. Instead of using the word "agree", you can say:

"concur". It means you have the same opinion or the same conclusion. If

you're not taking the TOEFL or the IELTS, don't worry about this word;

you're not going to use it very often. Okay. And disagree — very

straightforward. The easiest way to say you don't agree: "I disagree." But

somebody says: -"I... I like pizza." -"I don't like pizza." Easiest way — just

say the opposite. Easy. Okay? But the main thing I want everyone to take away

from this lesson is these three, because this is where the most mistakes happen.

Okay? So, be very careful about it. Positive statement — positive agreement;

negative statement — negative agreement. If... if you want to say the opposite,

then you're a whole different list of words. Okay? If you want to make sure

you understand all this, go to www.engvid.com. Check out the quiz. And

if you have any questions — of course, ask. Okay? I'll see you again soon.

Thanks.