PragmaticsB1

So do I, neither do I

Agreeing in echo: So do I / So am I / So can she; Neither do I for negatives; the auxiliary must match

Learning Goal

I can echo agreement with the matching auxiliary in so/neither patterns.

Exam Skills:B1 Preliminary ReadingB1 Preliminary Writing

Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?

I've never tried surfing. - Neither have I, but the lessons start Monday.

I've never tried surfing. - Neither have I, but the lessons start Monday.

She's allergic to cats. - So is her cat, ironically.

She's allergic to cats. - So is her cat, ironically.

Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?

Pick the matching auxiliary:

StatementMe tooMe neither
I love jazz.So do I.-
I'm tired.So am I.-
I can't swim.-Neither can I.
I've seen it.So have I.-

Pattern: So/Neither + auxiliary + subject (inverted!). The auxiliary copies the original: be→be, modal→modal, plain verb→do/does/did. Casual shortcuts: Me too / Me neither. Disagreeing: Oh, I don't. / Really? I do.

  • *So I do (no inversion) → So do I
  • Auxiliary mismatch: I'm tired - *So do I → So am I

Common Error Patterns

So I do word order

So/Neither + auxiliary + subject

do echoes be/modals

Copy the original auxiliary

I've never tried surfing. - Neither have I, but the lessons start Monday.

I've never tried surfing. - Neither have I, but the lessons start Monday.

Neither have I: copies the perfect auxiliary.

She's allergic to cats. - So is her cat, ironically.

She's allergic to cats. - So is her cat, ironically.

So is: be echoes be.

Practice in course

Apply this grammar in B1 course exercises

B1 Course
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