The difference between: anch’io/anche a me/neanch’io/neanche a me 

Anch’io vs. anche a me

Anche means too.

Anch’io means me too.

So, what does “anche a me” mean? It means me too, too. 

They are all used in positive phrases.

Nonetheless, anch’io and anche a me, can’t be used interchangeably. 

Why?

Anche a me is used only with verbs that introduce an indirect object (from whom the “a” stems from).

Which are these verbs? 

Typically, they are all impersonal verbs, like

• piacere – to like

• mancare – to miss 

• succedere – to happen

• basta – to be enough 

• servire – to need 

Let’s see a few examples, 

• Ti piace la birra? – Do you like beer?

• Sì, e a te? – yes, and you?

• Anche a me – me too.

• Mi manca l’Italia – I miss Italy 

• Anche a me – me too

• Mi serve un ombrello. – I need an umbrella 

• Anche a me – me too

 All the foregoing verbs include the preposition “a” in the contracted indirect pronoun mi (mi means a me). So, when using anche in the phrase “me too,” we’ll need to make that implicit “a” of the pronoun, explicit. 

All the other verbs would use “anch’io”.

For instance,

• Prendo una birra  – I‘ll have a beer 

• Anch’io – me too

• Vado in piazza – I’m going to the piazza

• Anche io – me too

Neanch’io vs. Neanche a me

Neanche means not even.

Neanch’io means me neither.

and neanche a me means me neither, too.

They are all used in negative phrases.

 Just like anch’io and anche a me, neanch’io and neanche a me can’t be interchanged. 

Neanch’io is used with intrastive verbs that use an indirect object.

• Non mi piace la birra – I don’t like beer 

• Neanche a me – me neither

• No mi è mai successo questo – it never happened to me

• Neanche a me – me neither

• Ti servono questi? – do you need these?

• No. E a te? – no, do you?

• Neanche a me – me neither

Neanch’io is used for other verbs. 

• Oggi non vado a lavoro. – I’m not going to work today.

• Neanch’io – me neither 

• Non bevo caffè – I don’t drink coffee

• Neanch’io – me neither 

The best way to learn how to use “anche a me” or “neanche a me” is by memorizing the verbs that usually trigger their use. 

This is a list of the most common ones:

• interessare – to be interested 

• sembrare, parare – to seem

• capitare, accadere, accadere – to happen 

• servire, bastare = to need

• dare fastidio  – to bother

• importare – to care 

For example,

• Mi interessa la politica – I’m interested in politics 

• Anche a me – me too

• Non mi importa – I don’t care

• Neanche a me – me neither