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[F-E] So and Neither

LET'S READ! 📖

Direction: Read the short passage then answer the questions being asked.

Situation:

It's Saturday evening. John and Marie have been working in the garden all day. They're sitting in the living room after dinner.

So and Neither

John_Happy Icon

John

I've worked so hard today, Marie!

Icon_Marie

Marie

So have I, John! I haven't even read this morning's paper.

John_Happy Icon

John

Neither have I! Where is it?

Icon_Marie

Marie

Oh, I think it's on top of the refrigerator in the kitchen. Would you mind getting it, John? I'm too tired to move.

John_Happy Icon

John

I don't really want to read it.

Icon_Marie

Marie

Well, neither do I. You know, my back is quite sore.

John_Happy Icon

John

So is mine. I planted a lot of young plants this afternoon.

Icon_Marie

Marie

I didn't stop working all afternoon.

John_Happy Icon

John

Neither did I. And by three o'clock my back was aching!

Icon_Marie

Marie

So was mine. I wasn't able to stand up straight for quite a while afterwards.

John_Happy Icon

John

Let's take a rest for now.

QUESTIONS

1. Why wouldn't John or Marie get the newspaper?

2. How did their back feel?

LET'S UNDERSTAND! 📚

So and Neither

1. So is used to show agreement with positive statements. It is similar to using "too" at the end of a sentence.

So + Auxiliary Verb + Subject (pronoun)

    Example:

    Icon_Mentor

    I've worked so hard today.

    Icon_Learner

    So have I! (= I've worked so hard, too.)

    Icon_Mentor

    My back is quite sore.

    Icon_Learner

    So is mine. (= My back is quite sore, too.)

🔺 The auxiliary (or to be/have) needs to agree with the verb tense in the original statement.

Person APerson B

I am happy.

So am I. (= I am happy, too.)

You look nice today.

So do you. (= You look nice, too.)

Che has a new boyfriend.

So does April. (= April has a new one, too.)

We went to the concert last night.

So did I. (= I went to the concert, too.)

I would love a coffee right now.

So would I. (= I would love a coffee, too.)

He will win a prize.

So will I. (= I will win one, too.)

They have finished their homework.

So have I. (= I have finished, too.)

I can speak two languages.

So can I. (= I can speak two, too.)

He should study more.

So should I. (= I should study more, too.)

We could see the mountains

So could we. (= We could see them, too.)

My brother had eaten too much.

So had I. (= I had eaten too much, too.)

🔺 Sometimes you can use So + Auxiliary + Subject as a continuation of the first part of the sentence.

    Example:

  • John can sing well and so can his brother.

    (= John can sing well and his brother can sing well, too.)

2. Neither [ nee - thr ] is used to show agreement with negative statements. It is similar to using "either" at the end of a sentence, although neither is more commonly used, especially in spoken English.

Neither + Auxiliary + Subject (pronoun)

    Example:

    Icon_Mentor

    I haven't read this morning's paper.

    Icon_Learner

    Neither have I! (= I haven't read it either.)

    Icon_Mentor

    I don't really want to read it.

    Icon_Learner

    Neither do I. (= I don't want to read it either.)

🔺 The auxiliary (or to be/have) needs to agree with the verb tense in the original statement.

Person APerson B

I am not hungry.

Neither am I. (= I'm not hungry either.)

They don't speak French.

Neither do I. (= I don't speak French either.)

Che doesn't eat meat.

Neither does Jill. (= Jill doesn't eat meat either.)

Mae didn't go to the party.

Neither did I. (= I didn't go either.)

I wouldn't like to do his job.

Neither would I. (= I wouldn't like to do it either.)

He won't stop talking

Neither will you. (= You won't stop either.)

You haven't finished your meal.

Neither have you. (= You haven't finished either.)

I can't reach the top shelf.

Neither can I. (= I can't reach it either.)

You shouldn't talk in the movie.

Neither should you. (= You shouldn't talk either.)

We couldn't hear him.

Neither could we. (= We could hear him either.)

I hadn't seen her before.

Neither had I. (= I hadn't seen her before either.)

REMEMBER!

📍 If there is no auxiliary verb in the original statement, use a form of do.

A: My body feels sore.

B: So does mine.


📍 After so and neither, the auxiliary verb comes before the subject.

So am I. NOT So I am.

Neither does she. NOT Neither she does.

LET'S PRACTICE! 📝

Direction: Please answer the following statements with "either" and "neither".

  1. I can speak neither French not German.

  2. I prefer summer over winter.

  3. I don't like horror movies.

  4. I have never tried skydiving.

  5. I can't stand being stuck in traffic.

  6. I'm not a big fan of horror movies.

  7. I am a morning person.

  8. I don't enjoy crowded places.

  9. I love going for long walks in nature.

  10. I want to travel overseas and visit famous tourist spots.