Learn English – In what dialects is “I don’t like it too” grammatical

dialectsgrammaticalitynegative-polarity-items

Consider:

Too — (adv.) also, as well, in addition.

We don’t usually use too in negative clauses; we use either instead:

  • I don’t like that kind of stuff.
  • I don’t like it either.

That said, here’s my concern: I’ve heard a native speaker from the Lake District (in the UK) say “I won’t do it and she won't do it too.”

When asked if that's how he usually phrases such sentences, I got an affirmative answer. This then reminded me of John Lennon’s lyrics to his song “Imagine”, which I had always thought must be wrong:

Imagine there’s no countries
It isn’t hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too

Is it grammatical in the UK (or in certain regions) to use too instead of either in such sentences?

Best Answer

That particular instance shouldn't be construed as a negative clause for the purpose you suggest.

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too

In this case, the "too" is part of an enumeration of things Mr. Lennon is asking you to imagine.

To phrase it another way, imagine that there are:

  1. no countries (it isn't hard to do)
  2. nothing to kill or die for
  3. and no religion too.

More abstractly, then, imagine A, B, and C too. That the contents of C may be negative doesn't affect use of too.

Addendum

Note that this also applies to the following:

I don't like it.

I don't like it too.

You would certainly have no objection if we reworded slightly, still using the word too:

I don't like it.

I too don't like it.