So Do I / Neither Have I / I Think So
I can distinguish adding my own agreement from confirming someone else’s statement.
Try the activities, then check your answers.
Try the activities, then check your answers.
Choose a short recording.
Your situation
“I work late on Fridays,” says Bea. “So do I,” replies Max: he works late too. Later, Bea notices a spare key in Max’s hand: “You have the key.” “So I do,” he says: he confirms her observation about himself. The same small words, in a different order, perform different conversational jobs.
Read the situation transcript
“I work late on Fridays,” says Bea. “So do I,” replies Max: he works late too. Later, Bea notices a spare key in Max’s hand: “You have the key.” “So I do,” he says: he confirms her observation about himself. The same small words, in a different order, perform different conversational jobs.
Which reply adds a second person with the same situation rather than confirming the original observation?
Compare your idea
So do I adds the speaker’s matching situation; so I do confirms the observation about that speaker.
How it works
So + auxiliary + subject adds positive agreement: So do I means I do too. So + subject + auxiliary can confirm a just-noticed fact: So I do means you are right that I do. Context and emphasis help the second construction sound natural.
Neither + auxiliary + subject adds negative agreement. I think so refers to a proposition, not necessarily to the speaker doing the same thing. A useful conversational reply must match reference, polarity and the intended act.
Add agreement: so/neither + auxiliary + subject. Confirm observation: so + subject + auxiliary. Tentative proposition: I think so.
Notice this
I work late on Fridays. So do I.
A second person shares the routine.
Compare this
You have the key. So I do.
The speaker confirms the observation about themselves.
Hear the examples
I work late on Fridays. So do I.
A second person shares the routine.
You have the key. So I do.
The speaker confirms the observation about themselves.
I haven’t seen the draft. Neither have I.
A second person shares the negative situation.
Will the room be open? I think so.
The reply tentatively endorses the proposition.
One mistake worth avoiding
Instead of: I work late. So I do, intended to mean I also work late.
Say: I work late. So do I.
Invert auxiliary and subject to add the second speaker’s matching situation.
You say
Hear the prompt, answer aloud, then deliberately reveal or hear one possible model. Check it and retry with a changed detail.
Your turn 1
Add your own agreement to a present-simple routine.
Compare a possible model
Reveal the model text
I work late on Fridays. So do I.
Check yourself: Use do before I.
Retry with one detail of your own. Other wording is welcome when it meets this check.
Your turn 2
Confirm a newly noticed fact about yourself.
Compare a possible model
Reveal the model text
You have the spare key. So I do.
Check yourself: Use subject before auxiliary for this confirmation.
Retry with one detail of your own. Other wording is welcome when it meets this check.
Your turn 3
Give a negative agreement, then expand it.
Compare a possible model
Reveal the model text
I haven’t seen the draft. Neither have I: I haven’t seen it either.
Check yourself: Keep the present-perfect auxiliary and negative meaning.
Retry with one detail of your own. Other wording is welcome when it meets this check.
Two guided self-checks
Say or write your answer before opening a model.
Self-check 1
Explain the difference between So do I and So I do in the scene.
Compare a model and explanation
The first adds the speaker as another person; the second confirms a fact about the speaker.
Word order changes the conversational act.
Self-check 2
Reply tentatively to “Will the room be open?” without claiming personal agreement in an activity.
Compare a model and explanation
I think so.
So stands for the room being open.
Check your understanding
Choose one answer to each question, then check your answers. One of the ten questions is listening.
Automatic scoring needs JavaScript. Use the answer key after attempting all ten questions.
Answer key with explanations
-
To mean I work late too: “So ___ I.”
do: Auxiliary before subject adds the speaker’s matching routine.
-
To confirm “You have the key”: “So ___.”
I do: So I do confirms the observation in this context.
-
What does So do I add after Bea’s statement?
Max also works late.: The reply adds a second person sharing the situation.
-
What does So I do confirm in the key exchange?
The speaker has the key.: The order confirms the just-noticed fact about the speaker.
-
Which reply gives negative present-perfect agreement?
Neither have I.: Neither have I preserves polarity and the auxiliary.
-
Correct the agreement response: “I can stay. So do I.”
I can stay. So can I.: Match the modal can in the earlier statement.
-
Does I think so necessarily mean I do the same activity?
No: It tentatively endorses a proposition rather than adding parallel participation.
-
What is Max doing in the key exchange?
Confirming a newly noticed fact about himself: So I do confirms the observation, supported by the explicit context.
-
Which principle prevents a misleading short reply?
Check whether you are adding agreement, confirming a fact or endorsing a proposition.: The conversational function determines word order and reference.
-
What is the main takeaway?
Small changes in word order can change the speech act.: The two so patterns illustrate a meaningful discourse distinction.
Take it with you
I can distinguish adding my own agreement from confirming someone else’s statement.