Grammar Practice in Context - David Bolton, Noel Goodey 1997
23 I think so, I hope so, etc. So do I, Neither do I, etc.
Quick reference
• In short answers, we often express agreement with so after the following verbs: believe, guess, hope, imagine, presume, reckon, seem, suppose, suspect, think, be afraid.
They must have a lot of money. - Yes, I suppose so
And they like to spend it. - It seems so
• With all of the above verbs except guess, hope, presume, suspect, be afraid, we often use negative forms with so. She passed the exam, didn't she? - I don’t think so
• But we must use not after guess, hope, presume, suspect, be afraid.
Is it going to rain? -I hope not (not I don’t hope so.)
• We can use both forms with believe, expect and suppose.
They won't win, will they? I don’t expect so or / expect not
• When we want to say that we do the same or feel the same as someone else, we can use the short answer So + auxiliary verb + subject after positive statements.
I can ski. - So can I. He works hard. - So do /. I've got a headache. - So have I.
• After negative statements we use Neither or Nor + auxiliary verb + subject.
/ don’t like English beer. - Neither do //Nor do I
I’m not enjoying this. - Neither am I/Nor am I
• Note that when the present simple or the past simple is used in the first statement, we use do, does or did after So/Neither/Nor.
We live in Manchester. - So do we I didn't want to go. - Neither did I.
1 Match the replies on the right with the sentences on the left.
1 I like Indian food.
2 But I don’t like very hot curries.
3 I’ve never eaten Thai food.
4 I’d like to try it some time.
5 But I’ve eaten Vietnamese.
6 I’m not very keen on Chinese food.
7 I can’t use chopsticks.
a) So have I.
b) Neither can I.
c) So do I.
d) Neither am I.
e) Neither do I.
f) So would I.
g) Neither have 1.
1... 2... 3... 4... 5... 6... 7...
2 Maria is Spanish and Pascal is French. They have just met in a bar in Rome. Complete Pascal’s part of the dialogue, using So... I and Neither ... I.
Maria: I’m learning English, pascal: (1) ...
Maria: I’ve been learning it for a long time. Pascal: (2) ...
Maria: I understand most of the grammar. Pascal: (3) ...
Maria: But I don’t find speaking English very easy. Pascal: (4) ...
Maria: And I sometimes can’t understand people. Pascal: (5) ...
Maria: I’ve never been to England. Pascal: (6) ...
Maria: I’d like to go one day. Pascal: (7) ...
Maria: Let’s have something to eat. I’m hungry. Pascal: (8) ...
3 Sarah is asking Zoe about her holiday plans. Zoe does not like flying. Read the dialogue and think of the word which best fits each space. Use only one word in each space.
Sarah: Are you going on holiday this summer?
Zoe: Yes, Tim and 1 are going to Naxos in July.
Sarah: It’ll be hot there in July, won't it?
Zoe: I suppose (1) ...
Sarah: What about the language? Can Tim speak any Greek?
Zoe: I (2) ... think so.
Sarah: Well, that won’t be a problem. I suppose they’ll speak English in the hotels.
Zoe: I hope (3) ...
Sarah: It takes about three and a half hours to Athens, doesn’t it?
Zoe: Yes, I’m (4) ... so.
Sarah: You don’t like flying, do you?
Zoe: No, I’m afraid (5) ...
4 Zoe and Tim are at the airport, on their way to Naxos. Complete Tim’s answers, using I think so, etc.
Zoe: Have we got time for a coffee?
Tim: (think) (1) ... It’s only ten to four.
Zoe: Our flight hasn’t been delayed, has it?
Tim: (think) (2) ... It doesn’t say ’Delayed’ on the board.
Zoe: So we won’t have to wait long.
Tim: (expect) (3) ...
Zoe: Will they call our flight?
Tim: (expect) (4) ...
Zoe: You’ve got our boarding cards, haven’t you?
Tim: (hope) (5) ...
Zoe: Can we change our money here?
Tim: (imagine) (6) ... There’s a bank over there.
Zoe: It’s quite a long flight, isn’t it?
Tim: (be afraid) (7) ...
Zoe: We won’t be there till 8 o’clock this evening, will we?
Tim: (be afraid) (8) ...
5 Answer these questions using / hope so/l don’t think so/I expect not, etc. Check your answers with a teacher.
Will you live till you are 80? Will you stop work when you are 60? Will you ever use your English outside the classroom? Will you always live in your own country? Will there ever be another world war?