Sunday, June 23, 2013

So - Neither - Either

SO

SO is used to show agreement with positive statements.
SO + Auxiliary + Subject (pronoun)
The Auxiliary needs to agree with the verb tense in the original statement.
It is similar to using TOO at the end of a sentence.
Person A Person B
I am happy. So am I.= I am happy too.
I'm going to Brazil in the summer. So am I.= I am going to Brazil too.
You look nice today. So do you.= you look nice too.
Stephanie has a new boyfriend. So does Mary.= Mary 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.

NEITHER

Neither is used to show agreement with negative statements.
Neither + Auxiliary + Subject (pronoun)
The Auxiliary needs to agree with the verb tense in the original statement.
It is similar to using either at the end of a sentence, although Neither is more commonly used, especially in spoken English.
A: I don't understand Spanish.
B: Neither do I. (= I don't understand Spanish either.)

A: I cannot swim.
B: Neither can I. (= I can't swim either.)

Sometimes people respond Me Neither instead of Neither + Auxiliary + Subject though this is very informal spoken English.
Person A Person B
I am not hungry. Neither am I. = I'm not hungry either
I'm not going to quit. Neither am I. = I'm not going to quit either
They don't speak French. Neither do I.= I don't speak French either.
Stephanie doesn't eat meat. Neither does Mary.= Mary doesn't eat meat either.
Mary 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.
Mike 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 couldn't hear him either.
I hadn't seen her before. Neither had I.= I hadn't seen her before either.

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