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Ok, at the end of an English class, the teacher says "Do you have any questions?"

Student A: I have no question

Student B: Me, too / Me, either

So, the Student B should say "Me, too" or "Me, either"?

I know that "Me, either" is American English: "Me, either" is American English: Dictionary Link.

EDIT (after comments): So, we can't use "Me, too" in this case?

Note: my question is unique. I know the rule of using "Me, too" or "Me, either". "Me, too" for positive sentence & "Me, either" for negative sentence.

Ex: I have a question. Me, too

Ex2: I don't have a question. Me, either.

So if we say "I have no question" then which one we should use "Me, too" or "Me, either"?

ColleenV
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Tom
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  • @NES, after reading the question you provided, I could not know "Me, too" & "Me, either" cos "I have no question" seems to have negative meaning--> thus need "Me, either" – Tom Nov 27 '15 at 15:01
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    What about "Me, neither"? – onlyforthis Nov 27 '15 at 15:05
  • See also What is the difference between "me neither" and "me either"? –  Nov 27 '15 at 15:10
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    Is that really what your English teacher asked? Better ways to phrase that question would be: Do you have any questions? or, Do you have a question? or, Does anyone have a question? or even, Any questions? The way you've worded it here sounds off. – J.R. Nov 27 '15 at 15:11
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    @NES et al - I really don't see how the question you've linked to would answer this question. Related? You bet. Duplicate and already answered there? I don't think so. – J.R. Nov 27 '15 at 15:39
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    Me, either may be a usage in AmE, but as the dictionary says, it is "informal." It is also probably dialectal. In both AmE and BrE the formal and standard response would be Me, neither, just as @J.R. has stated. –  Nov 27 '15 at 16:08
  • Rathony is not a native speaker and his answer contains many errors, as well as non-natural English. J.R.is a native speaker. –  Nov 27 '15 at 16:30
  • @Tom - "I have no question" is negative. If you add that to both of NES's linked questions, then that should give you your answer. I can understand that you need all 3 parts to get the answer though, hence why marking this as a duplicate might be a bit unfair. – AndyT Nov 27 '15 at 17:18
  • You could also use "Neither do I". – Riley Francisco Nov 27 '15 at 20:17
  • @NES - That may be so, but I do think the part of Ranthony's answer that's in the yellow quote box has some merit. – J.R. Nov 28 '15 at 00:08
  • Useful: http://ell.stackexchange.com/questions/74390/agreeing-with-negative-sentences-me-neither-or-me-too/74393#74393 – Maulik V Nov 30 '15 at 06:18

2 Answers2

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This is very tricky, and I think this question deserves its own answer.

The best way for Student B to chime in really depends on how Student A answers the initial question:

  • Student A: I have no question.
    Student B: Me, neither.

  • Student A: I don't have any questions.
    Student B: Me, either.

  • Student A: No questions from me!
    Student B: Me, either.

  • Student A: I have some questions.
    Student B: Me, too.

I'm having a hard time trying to figure out when it's better to use Me, either or Me, neither.

J.R.
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  • So, we can not use "Me, too" if someone says "I have no question" right? – Tom Nov 27 '15 at 15:42
  • Generally not. If someone was trying to sound VERY colloquial and borderline ungrammatical, they MIGHT be able to get away with it in some contexts. For example, two guys coming back from a fishing trip: "I caught no fish." "Me, too!" But this is an exception; as far as I know, we don't usually use "Me, too" for negative statements. – J.R. Nov 27 '15 at 15:48
  • @J.R. - Not sure where your confusion lies. In your first three examples, Student A always gives a negative response, hence Student B should always say "Me neither" if they want to be grammatical. If they want to use an Am.Eng colloquialism they can use "Me either" in any of the three. – AndyT Nov 27 '15 at 17:15
  • I tried to answer this here. http://ell.stackexchange.com/questions/74390/agreeing-with-negative-sentences-me-neither-or-me-too/74393#74393 – Maulik V Nov 30 '15 at 06:18
  • Responding "Me, neither" to "I have no question" does not sound logical to me. I don't see "I have no question" as a real negative sentence, I see as an affirmation of no/zero value, which in that case "Me too" looks more appropriate. See: this answer on ELU. – Patrick Bard Mar 22 '17 at 16:04
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Student A: I have no questions.

Student B: Me, too/Me, either.

As the student B is reacting to a negative statement made by A, you can use Me, either or Me, neither in informal AE. In BE, you say "Me, neither".

You say "Me, too" if you are reacting to a positive statement as follows:

Student A: I have a question.

Student B: Me, too.

Community
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Khan
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    Me neither is probably a safer choice for learners. Speakers who accept me either generally accept me neither as well, but the reverse is not true; speakers who accept me neither might not accept me either. –  Nov 27 '15 at 23:34
  • I would request the downvoter to explain the reason for his downvote so as to enlighten me. – Khan Nov 28 '15 at 09:29
  • My comment came with an upvote, not a downvote :-) –  Nov 28 '15 at 15:32
  • Snailboat, I know it's not you who downvoted; your first comments were in support of my answer. BTW, thanks. – Khan Nov 29 '15 at 12:31