Learn English – “Isn’t either” and “Neither is”

grammarsentence-construction

I wonder whether in the example below:

  • Peter isn't here today. Martha isn't either.

Can we substitute the second sentence for "Neither is Martha"?

I'm asking this question because once I read in Practical English Usage by "Michael Swan" that one cannot use "neither" here as an exception. (I can't exactly recall the rule!) While we can say:

Peter didn't pass the exam. Neither did Martha. as well as "Martha didn't either."

Please kindly enlighten me.

Best Answer

I think you can say "Neither is Martha".

In one of the most recent news about Buttigieg replying to Biden, you can read the following (please check the full text here):

Buttigieg: Biden is right that I'm no Barack Obama, but 'neither is he'

I believe that Buttigieg speaks proper English and he uses "neither is he" in his answer.