Question 1

Why doesn't the second sentence have a verb like "does" in English?

Accepted Answer

In Spanish, you can simply put tampoco (neither or not either) right after the subject to show they also don't do the action. You don't need a helper verb like "does". Mi padre tampoco just means "My father neither".

Question 2

Is tampoco the opposite of another word?

Accepted Answer

Yes, tampoco is the negative equivalent of también (also or too). If your brother did eat meat, you would say Mi padre también (My father too). Because the first statement is negative with no, you must use tampoco to agree with it.

Question 3

Why is it just carne and not la carne?

Accepted Answer

When talking about consuming an unspecified amount of something in general, Spanish leaves out the word for "the" (la or el), just like English does. Since he doesn't eat meat in general, it is simply no come carne.

Question 4

Why is the verb come instead of como?

Accepted Answer

come is the form of the verb comer (to eat) that goes with "he", "she", or "it". Because the subject is Mi hermano (My brother), we use the "he" form. If you wanted to say "I don't eat", you would use como.

Mi hermano no come carne. Mi padre tampoco.

Breakdown of Mi hermano no come carne. Mi padre tampoco.

Questions & Answers about Mi hermano no come carne. Mi padre tampoco.

Learn Mi hermano no come carne. Mi padre tampoco and more in Spanish