Neither am I or Neither have I?

I saw a line from the TV series as below:

Easy’s never been afraid of taking chances and neither am I.

Question: So is it okay to say neither am I instead of neither have I, right?
That means I can use the present perfect tense in the first part, and the simple present in the second part, right?

Thank you!!!


Yes both are fine here. The “am I” variant also makes it sound a little like the woman Is about to take a chance rather than just speaking how she hasnt been afraid of it in the past.

2 Likes

Yes indeed!

As LILingquist says it sounds as if she may be about to do so.

“Easy’s never been afraid of taking chances and neither am I. I’m all for taking chances. So let me tell you my plan”

Which can be contrasted to:

“Easy’s never been afraid of taking chances and neither have I…until now! I’m out of here!”

Grammar rule

  • Past perfect brings the event up to now
    Example sentence using past perfect: I have never been afraid of taking chances and I’m not now either!
    Different meaning using past perfect: I have never been afraid of taking chances, but right now, I am not so sure.

  • Simple present, factual
    Example sentence: I am not afraid of taking chances, never have been and never will be.

2 Likes