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English Grammar – Intermediate

“So and Neither + Auxiliary”


Lesson Content

English grammar - So and Neither + Auxiliary

Warm-Up Question:

Ask the following questions and respond whether you agree or disagree with them.

Example:

  • A: “Do you like rock music?”
  • B: “Yes, I do.” OR “I don’t.”
  • A: “Oh! So do I.” OR “I don’t like it either.” (Neither do I.)

Listening in Context:

So today, we were talking about AI in class, and one student said, β€œAI can make our work a lot easier and save time.” So I responded, β€œSo do I . . . to a degree. It can handle repetitive tasks and free us up for the more interesting parts of our jobs, but it CAN take away jobs as well.”

Another student admitted, β€œI haven’t started learning new skills for the future.” I said, β€œNeither have I. Honestly, it’s hard to know where to start.”

Someone else said, β€œI don’t feel confident using AI in my work.” Well, neither do I. I guess the only way to get better is just to learn about it and experiment, even if it feels awkward at first.

Finally, one student said, β€œI have real concerns about the impact AI will have on all of us.” You know what? So do I. I’m worried that it will affect the human element of the workplace and even the environment. It’s kind of scary. We need to balance the benefits of AI while considering the human costs as well.

All in all, AI is powerful, but how we respond, learn, and adapt will make all of the difference.


Grammar Focus

We use β€œSo” and β€œNeither” to show agreement with someone’s statement.

  • β€œSo” is used to agree with positive statements.
  • β€œNeither” is used to agree with negative statements.

The structure is:

  • So / Neither + auxiliary verb + subject

Use the same auxiliary verb or form of be from the original statement (e.g., do, does, did, am, is, are, was, were, have, will, etc.)

Examples:

  • β€œI like pizza.” β†’ β€œSo do I.”
  • β€œShe doesn’t drive.” β†’ β€œNeither does he.”
  • β€œThey were late.” β†’ β€œSo were we.”
  • β€œI haven’t finished my work.” β†’ β€œNeither have I.”

Caution: Don’t change the verb tense or use the base verb. These are short agreement statements, not full clauses.

  • ❌ Incorrect: β€œSo I like”
  • βœ… Correct: β€œSo do I”
  • ❌ Incorrect: β€œNeither I don’t”
  • βœ… Correct: β€œNeither do I”

This pattern keeps conversations natural and avoids repetition.


Why This Grammar Matters for Listening and Speaking

β€œSo / Neither” responses are common in natural conversation. They help you sound more fluent and connected when you’re reacting to someone else’s statement. Instead of repeating the full sentence, you can quickly show agreement.

Real-life uses:

  • Reacting during casual chats:
    • β€œI’m tired today.” β†’ β€œSo am I.”
  • Talking about shared experiences:
    • β€œWe went to that new restaurant.” β†’ β€œSo did we!”
  • Expressing common dislikes:
    • β€œI don’t like loud music.” β†’ β€œNeither do I.”

Useful phrases:

  • β€œSo do I.” / β€œSo does she.” / β€œSo will we.”
  • β€œNeither do I.” / β€œNeither have they.” / β€œNeither am I.”

Listening Tip: Pay attention to auxiliary verbs like do, be, have, and their tenses. These help you catch meaning quickly.

If your classmate says, β€œI can’t swim,” and you hear, β€œNeither can I,” you know they both share that experience. Understanding this pattern improves your response time and helps conversations flow naturally.


Let’s Practice


Language Game

Now, practice your language skills with this interactive game.


Listening & Speaking Practice Questions

These questions help you practice listening to someone and responding with β€œSo” or β€œNeither.” Try to add a short comment after you agree to continue the conversation.

  1. Daily Life:
    • What’s something you really enjoy?
      ➀ β€œI love cooking.” β€” β€œSo do I! What do you like to cook?”
  2. Dislikes:
    • Is there something you don’t enjoy doing?
      ➀ β€œI don’t like doing laundry.” β€” β€œNeither do I. It’s so boring.”
  3. Habits and Routines:
    • Do you get up early in the morning?
      ➀ β€œYes, I wake up at 6 a.m.” β€” β€œSo do I! It’s hard, right?”
  4. Past Experiences:
    • Did you travel last summer?
      ➀ β€œYes, I went to Mexico.” β€” β€œSo did I! What city did you visit?”
  5. Future Plans:
    • Are you going to study this weekend?
      ➀ β€œNo, I’m taking a break.” β€” β€œNeither am I. I need some rest too.”
  6. Family:
    • Does your mom enjoy reading?
      ➀ β€œYes, she reads every night.” β€” β€œSo does mine! What does she read?”
  7. Feelings:
    • Are you feeling tired today?
      ➀ β€œYes, I stayed up too late.” β€” β€œSo am I! I need more sleep.”

Disclosure: Randall developed this content through collaboration with AI, combining technological support with professional instructional design.

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