Learn English – Usage Too, As well and Also in negative sentences

adverbs

I also/too don't understand why they're here

Is this sentence correct? My grammar book is saying that this sentence is wrong and we should use either in negative sentences. For example above sentence should be “I don’t understand why they are here either”.

But I feel like using too/also/as well is still fine in negative sentences.Are they wrong? How does the meaning of a sentence differ if we use them instead of “either”?

Best Answer

"Also" can work perfectly well, but with a different meaning: you have previously stated an object clause and are adding another object clause to the action of the subject and verb:

  • (You) I don't know who they are.
  • (You) I also don't understand why they're here.

In contrast, "either" can apply a previously-stated action to a new subject:

  • (Alice) I don't understand why they're here.
  • (Bob) I don't understand why they're here either. (Or just "I don't either" or "me neither.")

It is true that "too" and "as well" don't really work with negative clauses, nor does "also" in the second role (Alice/Bob example).

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