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Ch 14

So and Neither

So do I · Neither can I · all auxiliaries

so and neither: agreement

Use so to agree with positive statements and neither to agree with negative statements.

Positive → So
A: I'm tired. B: So am I.
Negative → Neither
A: I can't swim. B: Neither can I.
Key rule
So / Neither + auxiliary + subject (always inverted)

So across all auxiliaries

be (am/is/are/was/were)
A: I'm hungry. B: So am I. / A: She was there. B: So was I.
do/does/did
A: I like jazz. B: So do I. / A: She enjoyed it. B: So did I.
have/has
A: I've finished. B: So have I.
will
A: I'll come. B: So will I.
can/could/would
A: I can help. B: So can I. / A: I would love that. B: So would I.

Neither across all auxiliaries

be
A: I'm not tired. B: Neither am I.
do/does/did
A: I don't like it. B: Neither do I.
have
A: I haven't eaten. B: Neither have I.
can
A: I can't drive. B: Neither can I.
would / will
A: I wouldn't do that. B: Neither would I.
Nor can replace neither: Nor can I. In informal speech "Me neither" works for all negatives.

Disagreement

When you don't share the feeling, use a full short answer

Positive disagreement
A: I hate mornings. B: I don't. / I love them.
A: I'm tired. B: I'm not.
Negative disagreement
A: I can't cook. B: I can.
A: I don't like it. B: I do!

Common mistakes

A: I like coffee. B: So I do.
→
B: So do I.
inversion: so + auxiliary + I (not so I auxiliary)
A: I can't swim. B: Neither I can.
→
B: Neither can I.
inversion required: neither + aux + subject
A: I enjoyed it. B: So enjoyed I.
→
B: So did I.
use auxiliary (did), not the full verb

Recap

So + aux + I
agree with positive
A: I'm tired. B: So am I.
Neither + aux + I
agree with negative
A: I can't swim. B: Neither can I.
Match the auxiliary
am/is/do/did/can/have/will...
so was I / neither had I
Disagree
short answer without so/neither
A: I hate it. B: I don't.
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