So do I, neither do I and I think so
Agreeing in two or three words: so do I, neither can I, me neither, and short answers like I think so and I hope not.
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When someone says something that is also true for you, English has short replies built from an auxiliary verb: "I love jazz." "So do I." For a negative sentence, the reply is negative too: "I can't swim." "Neither can I." With think, hope and a few other verbs, so and not replace a whole sentence: I think so, I hope not.
So and neither + auxiliary + subject
The sentence | Your reply | Example |
|---|---|---|
positive | So + auxiliary + I | "I'm tired." "So am I." |
negative | Neither + auxiliary + I | "I'm not hungry." "Neither am I." |
The auxiliary comes before the subject, as in a question.
- "I'm from Kazan." "So is my wife."
- "We went to Rome last year." "So did we."
- "I haven't seen the new film." "Neither have I."
- Incorrect: "I can't drive." "Neither I can."
- Correct: "I can't drive." "Neither can I."After so and neither, the auxiliary comes before the subject.
Choosing the auxiliary
Use the same verb as the sentence you are answering: be, have, can, will and the other modals. If the sentence has no auxiliary (the present simple or the past simple), use do, does or did.
- "I love this song." "So do I."
- "My brother works in IT." "So does mine."
- "I'll be late tonight." "So will I."
- Incorrect: "I'm really hungry." "So do I."
- Correct: "I'm really hungry." "So am I."The sentence uses am, so the reply uses am too.
Neither and nor
Nor means the same as neither here, and both are common in British English: "I don't like horror films." "Nor do I." Neither and nor are already negative, so the verb after them is positive.
- Incorrect: "I don't eat meat." "Neither don't I."
- Correct: "I don't eat meat." "Neither do I."Neither is already negative, so the auxiliary after it is positive.
Me too and me neither
In everyday conversation, me too and me neither are very common and a little more informal. Me too answers a positive sentence and me neither answers a negative one.
- "I'm hungry." "Me too."
- "I don't understand this." "Me neither."
- Incorrect: "I don't like coffee." "Me too."
- Correct: "I don't like coffee." "Me neither."The sentence is negative, so the reply is negative too: me neither, or neither do I.
When you don't agree
If the sentence isn't true for you, answer with the subject and a stressed auxiliary, the opposite way round.
- "I love jazz." "Oh, I don't."
- "I'm not tired." "I am. I've been up since five."
- "I didn't like the hotel." "Really? I did."
I think so, I hope not
After think, hope, expect, suppose and be afraid, the word so replaces a positive answer. For a negative answer, hope and be afraid take not, and think usually takes don't ... so.
Positive | Negative |
|---|---|
I think so. | I don't think so. |
I hope so. | I hope not. |
I'm afraid so. | I'm afraid not. |
I expect so. | I don't expect so. |
- "Is the shop open on Sunday?" "I think so."
- "Will it rain tomorrow?" "I hope not."
- "Is the flight cancelled?" "I'm afraid so." (= yes, and I'm sorry)
- Incorrect: "Is she coming?" "I think that yes."
- Correct: "Is she coming?" "I think so."After think, so replaces the whole answer.
- Incorrect: "Is it going to rain?" "I hope no."
- Correct: "Is it going to rain?" "I hope not."For a negative answer after hope, use not.
I think not also exists, but it sounds formal. In conversation, say I don't think so.
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