How to agree with an "I have never..." statement?

Question

My colleague who is native English speaker said "I have never been to Croatia before"

Is it correct to say: "neither have I"?

My tutor said I should use "neither" only with contractions like

"I don't like broccoli."
"Neither do I".

And "I have never been there" is I think affirmative because there's no contraction...

Um, if your tutor said you can only use "neither" to agree with sentences containing contractions, I think you need a new tutor. — MissMonicaE, Commented May 3, 2017 at 16:15
I'd like to hear the actual wording the tutor used before I jump to a conclusion. And 'contraction' morphs into 'contradiction' later; I think misrepresentation has to be involved here. — Edwin Ashworth, Commented May 3, 2017 at 16:56
It was my mistake sorry for that. I ment of course "contractions" — Tomas, Commented May 3, 2017 at 17:05

SovereignSun · Accepted Answer · 2017-05-03 16:28:47Z

1

You have two wonderful choices:

And more:

answered May 3, 2017 at 16:28

SovereignSun

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Is Me too a choice for affirmative sentences? If so what are some equevalents to "me too"?
– Gamal Thomas
Commented Jun 5, 2017 at 9:17
@GamalThomas "Me too" is a choice for an affirmative sentence as well as "So do (am, did) I", "And me" and "Me also"
– SovereignSun
Commented Jun 5, 2017 at 10:09

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expos4everexpos4ever · Accepted Answer · 2017-05-03 14:19:12Z

0

I believe it is indeed correct to reply to your colleague's statement with "Neither have I".

answered May 3, 2017 at 14:19

expos4ever

1

Thanks! Could you please explain me why? My tutor said I should use "neither" only with contradictions like "I don't like broccoli. Neither do i". And following statement "I have never been there" is I think affirmative
– Tomas
Commented May 3, 2017 at 14:25
2

@Tomas: I have never been to Croatia before is not an affirmative sentence; it's a negative one. And your reply Neither have I is also a negative sentence and it's acceptable. Neither is used to talk about two or more negative ideas in a related sense; not to talk about contradictions. You can also use I haven't either or Nor have I in place of Neither have I.
– mahmud k pukayoor
Commented May 3, 2017 at 14:46

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2 Answers 2