Learn So / Neither + Auxiliary in English
Agree with positive and negative statements: So do I. Neither can she.
Grammar Focus
When someone makes a statement and you want to agree with it, English uses two special structures: So (for positive agreement) and Neither (for negative agreement). These structures allow you to say "me too" or "me neither" in a grammatically precise way by mirroring the auxiliary verb from the original statement.
- Use So + auxiliary + subject to agree with a positive statement: "I love jazz." → "So do I."
- Use Neither + auxiliary + subject to agree with a negative statement: "I can't swim." → "Neither can I."
- The auxiliary verb you use must match the tense and type used in the original statement: be verbs, modal verbs, do/does/did, have/has.
- The subject and auxiliary are inverted — unlike normal sentences, the auxiliary comes before the subject.
- In informal speech, Me too (positive) and Me neither (negative) are common alternatives, though they are not grammatically complete sentences.
- These structures are especially useful in conversation to show empathy, agreement, and shared experience.
Form & Structure
Agreeing with Positives: So
Agreeing with Negatives: Neither
Informal Alternatives
Common Mistakes
Using the wrong auxiliary verb
Tip: You must use the auxiliary verb that matches the original tense. For simple present with action verbs, use do/does — not the main verb itself.
Using 'Neither' with positive statements
Tip: Neither is only for agreeing with negative statements. If the original statement is positive, always use So, not Neither.
Keeping normal word order instead of inverting
Tip: After So and Neither, you must invert the subject and auxiliary: auxiliary first, then subject. Think of it like a question structure.
Why This Grammar Matters
Finding common ground with someone you just met
Agreeing with a colleague at work
Chatting with friends about preferences
Expressing shared concerns or feelings
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This lesson content was created with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy.
Quick Summary
| Use | Formula | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Agreeing with Positives: So | **So** + auxiliary + subject (So **do** I. So **is** she. So **can** he.) | "I love traveling." → "**So do I.**" |
| Agreeing with Negatives: Neither | **Neither** + auxiliary + subject (Neither **do** I. Neither **is** she.) | "I don't like spicy food." → "**Neither do I.**" |
| Informal Alternatives | Me too (positive) | Me neither (negative) | "I'm tired." → "**Me too.**" (informal for "So am I.") |
Have you ever wanted to agree with someone in English but struggled to find the right words? One of the most natural and expressive ways to show agreement in English conversation is by using the structures "So do I" and "Neither do I". These short responses signal that you share the same feeling, experience, or opinion as the person you are speaking with — and using them correctly makes your English sound fluent and natural. The grammar behind these responses is called agreement with So and Neither. When someone makes a positive statement — "I love pizza", "She is tired", "They have finished" — you can agree by saying "So do I", "So am I", or "So have we". When someone makes a negative statement — "I don't like cold weather", "He can't swim", "They haven't called" — you agree by saying "Neither do I", "Neither can he", or "Neither have they". What makes this structure a little tricky for English learners is the inverted word order. Unlike regular sentences, after So and Neither you put the auxiliary verb before the subject. You also need to match the auxiliary verb to the tense and type used in the original statement. If the original uses "can", you use "can". If it uses past simple, you use "did". If it uses present perfect, you use "have" or "has". This lesson covers everything you need to know about So and Neither for agreement: what they mean, how to form them correctly, which auxiliary verb to choose, and how to avoid the most common mistakes. You will also learn when to use the informal alternatives "Me too" and "Me neither" and how they differ from the more formal structures. By the end of this lesson, agreeing in English conversation will feel confident and natural.
What Does So and Neither Mean in English?
In English grammar, So and Neither are used to express agreement with statements made by another person. They work as short agreement responses that mirror the idea expressed in the original sentence. So is used to agree with positive statements. It signals that the same positive situation applies to you or another person. For example, if someone says "I love hiking", you can respond "So do I" to mean "I love hiking too". If someone says "She is very talented", you can respond "So is he" to mean "He is very talented too". Neither is used to agree with negative statements. It signals that the same negative situation also applies to you or another person. For example, if someone says "I don't drink coffee", you respond "Neither do I" to mean "I don't drink coffee either". If someone says "He can't play the piano", you respond "Neither can she" to mean "She can't play the piano either". Both So and Neither require inverted word order — the auxiliary verb comes before the subject. This is similar to question structure but used in statements. Understanding this distinction is the key to using So and Neither confidently. They are extremely common in everyday English conversation, in both formal and informal contexts, and mastering them will help you sound natural and engaged when speaking with others.
Read the full grammar guide
Using So to Agree with Positive Statements
The structure for agreeing with positive statements is: **So + auxiliary verb + subject**. The auxiliary verb you choose must match the tense and type of auxiliary used in the original statement. For the verb 'to be' in the present tense, use the correct form of be: "I am exhausted." → "So am I." / "She is brilliant." → "So is he." For action verbs in the simple present, use do or does: "I enjoy cooking." → "So do I." / "She works hard." → "So does he." For action verbs in the simple past, use did: "I visited Rome last year." → "So did we." For modal verbs such as can, should, will, must, use the same modal: "I can speak French." → "So can she." / "You should rest." → "So should I." For the present perfect, use have or has: "They have finished the project." → "So have we." A key point to remember is that you never repeat the main verb in the response. You only use the auxiliary. If someone says "I love jazz", your response is "So do I" — not "So love I". Practicing these patterns with different auxiliary types will help you choose the correct form automatically in real conversation.
Using Neither to Agree with Negative Statements
The structure for agreeing with negative statements is: **Neither + auxiliary verb + subject**. Just like with So, the auxiliary must match the tense and type used in the original negative statement — but it appears in its affirmative form after Neither. For the verb 'to be' in the negative: "I am not ready." → "Neither am I." / "She isn't convinced." → "Neither is he." For simple present negatives (don't/doesn't): "I don't eat meat." → "Neither do I." / "She doesn't like horror films." → "Neither does he." For simple past negatives (didn't): "I didn't enjoy the meeting." → "Neither did we." For negative modals (can't, won't, shouldn't, mustn't): "I can't drive." → "Neither can she." / "They won't attend." → "Neither will I." For present perfect negatives (haven't/hasn't): "I haven't seen that film." → "Neither have they." Important note: after Neither, the auxiliary is always in its positive form. The word Neither itself carries the negative meaning. So you say "Neither can I" — not "Neither can't I". This is one of the most common mistakes learners make, so it is worth practising carefully. Thinking of Neither as a word that already contains the "not" meaning will help you remember not to add another negative.
Common Mistakes with So and Neither
Even intermediate learners make predictable mistakes with So and Neither. Knowing what these mistakes are — and why they happen — can help you avoid them. The first and most frequent mistake is using the wrong auxiliary verb. Learners sometimes carry over the main verb from the original sentence instead of using the correct auxiliary. For example, responding to "I enjoy reading" with "So enjoy I" is incorrect. The correct response is "So do I" because the simple present uses the auxiliary do. Always ask yourself: what is the tense and what auxiliary does it use? The second common mistake is mixing up So and Neither. Because learners may not be paying close attention to whether the original statement is positive or negative, they sometimes respond with So to a negative statement or Neither to a positive one. If someone says "I don't like spicy food" and you respond "So do I", you are actually claiming that you do like spicy food — the opposite of what you intend. Make sure you identify whether the original statement is positive or negative before choosing So or Neither. The third mistake involves word order. Learners often forget to invert the subject and auxiliary and say "So I am" instead of "So am I", or "Neither I can" instead of "Neither can I". After So and Neither, the auxiliary always comes first. This inverted structure is non-negotiable in correct English. The fourth mistake is adding an extra negative after Neither, such as "Neither can't I" or "Neither don't I". Since Neither already contains the negative meaning, adding another negative creates a double negative — which is grammatically incorrect in standard English. Keep the auxiliary in its positive form after Neither.
So / Neither vs Me Too / Me Neither
In informal spoken English, many native speakers use "Me too" to agree with positive statements and "Me neither" to agree with negative statements instead of the full So/Neither structures. It is useful to understand how these alternatives compare. "Me too" is the informal equivalent of "So do I", "So am I", "So have I", etc. It does not require matching an auxiliary verb and is much simpler. For example, "I love that restaurant." → "Me too!" This is perfectly natural in casual conversation. "Me neither" is the informal equivalent of "Neither do I", "Neither can I", etc. For example, "I don't like mornings." → "Me neither." Again, simple and widely used in everyday speech. However, there are situations where the full structures are more appropriate. In formal contexts — job interviews, academic presentations, business meetings — "So do I" and "Neither can I" sound more polished and professional than "Me too" and "Me neither". In writing, the full structures are almost always preferred. A useful strategy is to learn both forms and understand which register they belong to: the full So/Neither structures for formal and written English, and Me too/Me neither for casual conversation. Mastering both gives you full flexibility across all social and professional situations.
Practice In This Page
1. "I love traveling." → "_____"
Show answer
So do I.
2. "I don't like spicy food." → "_____"
Show answer
Neither do I.
3. "I love chocolate." → "So love I."
Show answer
"I love chocolate." → "So do I."
4. "I enjoy reading." → "Neither do I."
Show answer
"I enjoy reading." → "So do I."
5. "She is happy." → "So I am."
Show answer
"She is happy." → "So am I."
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the difference between 'So do I' and 'Me too'?
- 'So do I' is the grammatically complete form used in both formal and informal English. It matches the auxiliary verb from the original statement. 'Me too' is an informal alternative that is common in casual spoken English but does not specify a tense or auxiliary verb. Both are acceptable, but 'So do I' is more appropriate in formal or written contexts.
- How do I know which auxiliary to use after So or Neither?
- You match the auxiliary verb from the original statement. If the statement uses 'is' or 'are', use the corresponding be verb. If it uses 'can', use 'can'. If it uses simple past (did), use 'did'. If it is simple present with a main verb, use 'do' or 'does'. The key is always to mirror the tense and type of auxiliary in the original statement.
- Can I say 'Neither can't I' to agree with a negative statement?
- No. After 'Neither', you should always use the auxiliary in its positive form. 'Neither' itself carries the negative meaning, so adding 'can't' would create a double negative, which is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is simply 'Neither can I'.
- What is the difference between 'Me neither' and 'Neither do I'?
- 'Me neither' is an informal expression used in casual conversation to agree with a negative statement. 'Neither do I' (or 'Neither can I', 'Neither have I', etc.) is the full grammatical structure that matches the auxiliary from the original statement. In formal or written contexts, the full structure is preferred. In everyday conversation, both are widely accepted.
- Is the word order after So and Neither the same as in questions?
- Yes, the inverted word order (auxiliary before subject) after So and Neither is similar to question formation. In a question you say 'Can she swim?' — auxiliary first, then subject. Similarly, after So and Neither you say 'So can she' or 'Neither can she' — auxiliary first, then subject. This inversion is what makes the structure feel slightly unusual for learners.
- Can Neither be replaced by 'Nor' in the same structure?
- Yes, 'Nor' can replace 'Neither' in formal or literary English. The structure and word order remain the same: 'Nor + auxiliary + subject'. For example, 'I don't enjoy horror films.' → 'Nor do I.' This usage is more common in formal writing or speech. In everyday conversation, 'Neither do I' is far more commonly heard.