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I was talking to someone earlier today, and while trying to relate with them, I suddenly found myself trying to decide between "I too" and "me too". I can't quite grasp their differences.

As I understand it, "me too" is valid only on its own, in response to someone's statement.

Person 1: I absolutely love that new album

Person 2: Me too! Doesn't everyone?

Whereas, "I too" works (I believe) in both that scenario, as well as at (is that wording correct?) the beginning of a response phrase.

Person 3: I too, enjoy the album you mentioned.

Regardless of whether I am right or not, can someone please explain the mechanics behind this?

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    'Me too' is just an informal usage. To be strictly grammatical, Person 2 should have said 'I do too' or 'So do I', but that sounds a bit stilted in everyday chat.
    – Kate Bunting
    Dec 13, 2017 at 9:37
  • Related: I didn't realise it was him
    – Tim Lymington
    Dec 13, 2017 at 10:55
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    As a note: "I too" is rather formal in AE. My personal feeling is that "I too...." is actually used more frequently to be intentionally and amusingly overly formal or proper sounding. In every day usage it would never be used seriously.
    – SonOfPingu
    Dec 13, 2017 at 11:53
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    @KateBunting To be strictly grammatical one could just say: 'Me too'!
    – Araucaria - Him
    Dec 13, 2017 at 13:31

2 Answers 2

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In modern English, we don't use nominative case Subjects when there isn't a tensed verb in that clause.

It is rare for [him to miss a class].

*It is rare for [he to miss a class]. (ungrammatical)

The proform too can stand in for a tensed verb phrase. However, because it is not actually a verb and therefore has no tense, we cannot use a nominative Subject with it:

  • *I too! (ungrammatical)

  • Me too! (grammatical)

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'I too' definitely doesn't work where 'me too' does. Think of 'I too' as replacing the words 'I also'. This will work for Person 3, but doesn't fit as Person 2's response.

Person 3: I also enjoy the album you mentioned.

Person 2: I also! (doesn't work) Doesn't everyone?

In addition, you would also place a comma after 'I' and before 'too'.

I, too, enjoy the album you mentioned.

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