In a sentence I want to disagree with the speaker:
- I can't speak english
- I can, too.
Is right to use "I can, too" in this case?
Ps.: I found this example on 5minuteenglish (B and C say the same thing in a different way according to the website)
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You should check out English Language Learners.– J.R. ♦Commented Jul 16, 2018 at 17:54
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1No - you can't use I can too to confirm that you also can't do something. Although it's a bit "stilted", you could (just about) say I too can't, but note that it's not at all idiomatic to say I can't too (in a "negating" context, that would have to be I can't either). Finally, note that the exchange "You can't speak English!" - "I can too!" is valid (if "slangy"), where too imparts emphasis to the refutation.– FumbleFingersCommented Jul 16, 2018 at 17:58
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@FumbleFingers B and C say the same thing in a different way. Ex.: I can = I can, too. I just want to know if using "too" after comma when you disagree with negative sentence is right.– Vitor AbellaCommented Jul 16, 2018 at 18:02
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1These might be OK if said by the right person in the conversation. A says "I'm not Canadian", B then replies "I am" (with emphasis on I in order to point out the difference), C, a third person altogether, agreeing with B (not A) says "I am _too". In this situation, B cannot say "I am too", meaningfully, in response to A.– MitchCommented Jul 16, 2018 at 18:09
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1@Fumblefingers ""You can't speak English!" - "I can too!" is valid" - very North American.– Michael HarveyCommented Jul 16, 2018 at 18:47
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1 Answer
No, too is only used when you are in agreement.
EDIT: Someone brought up the American slang of "Can too." in reply to "You can't X." I'm English so I can't speak for how common it is there, but it's definitely ungrammatical at the very least.
