So and Neither

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.)