So do I and neither do I: agree, disagree and insist – so, neither and emphatic do exercises for B2

This B2 drill lesson gives so, neither and emphatic do exercises: agreeing with So have I or Neither can I, disagreeing with Oh, I don't, and insisting with I did read it!

Grammar: So or Neither + auxiliary + subject, the auxiliary copied from the first verb; Me too and Me neither; subject + auxiliary to disagree; emphatic do, does, did + base verb.
Topic: A book club's group chat about an invented novel, then the host's meeting notes, a member's three-star review, next month's vote and a chat with Wanjiru.
Activities: True or false, sorting, choices, gap-fills, matching, tables, word order, situation quizzes, drag-and-drop dialogues, a memory game and a chat.

What's inside

Chapter 1The rule
- PictureUnlock
- Study the scheme: so, neither and emphatic doGrammar schemeTry it
- Is the reply correct? Mark true or falseTrue or falseUnlock
- Sort the sentences: agree with So … or with Neither …?Sort into columnsTry it
- Choose the right replyChoose the optionUnlock
- Write the missing wordFill in the gapsUnlock
Chapter 2Me too! So and neither
- Fill in the gaps: agree with so or neitherFill in the gapsTry it
- Choose the right reply: so or neither?Choose the optionUnlock
- Match the statements and the repliesMatchUnlock
- Fill in the table: you agree, and so does your sisterFill in the tableUnlock
- Put the words in the right orderUnjumbleUnlock
- Read Ludmila and Torvald's messages and drag the words into the gapsDrag and dropUnlock
- Find the mistake and choose the right wordsQuizUnlock
Chapter 3Not me! Disagreeing
- Choose the right reply: you disagreeChoose the optionTry it
- Fill in the gaps: disagree with your friendFill in the gapsUnlock
- Sort the replies: agree or disagree?Sort into columnsUnlock
- Fill in the gaps: two people, the same or different?Fill in the gapsUnlock
- Choose the right reply for the situationQuizUnlock
- Match the opinions and the repliesMatchUnlock
- Read what the two critics say and drag the words into the gapsDrag and dropUnlock
Chapter 4I did read it! Emphatic do
- Fill in the gaps: emphatic doFill in the gapsUnlock
- Choose the right form: emphatic doChoose the optionUnlock
- Match the complaints and the answersMatchTry it
- Rewrite the sentences with emphatic doFill in the gapsUnlock
- Put the words in the right order: emphatic doUnjumbleUnlock
- Find the mistake and choose the right words: emphatic doQuizUnlock
- Read Junia's email and drag the words into the gapsDrag and dropUnlock
Chapter 5Real life: The book club chat
- Read the book club's group chatReal-life documentUnlock
- Read the chat again: true or false?True or falseUnlock
- Read Philomena's notes from the meeting and fill in the gapsFill in the gapsUnlock
- Read Kasimir's review and drag the words into the gapsDrag and dropUnlock
- Read the vote for next month's book and choose the right wordsChoose the optionUnlock
- Choose the right replies: Wanjiru texts youChatTry it
- Test yourself: choose the right answerQuizUnlock
Chapter 6Homework
- Choose the right reply: at workChoose the optionUnlock
- Fill in the gaps: agree with your friend on vacationFill in the gapsUnlock
- Fill in the gaps: disagree politelyFill in the gapsUnlock
- Fill in the gaps: emphatic do at homeFill in the gapsUnlock
- Read the forum thread and drag the words into the gapsDrag and dropUnlock
- Put the words in the right order: mixed sentencesUnjumbleUnlock
- Sort the replies by their formSort into columnsUnlock
- Match the beginnings and the endingsMatchUnlock
- Find the matching pairs: the statement and the replyMemory gameUnlock
- Fill in the table: agree or disagreeFill in the tableUnlock
- Find the mistake and choose the right words: everyday EnglishQuizUnlock
- Is it correct English? Mark true or falseTrue or falseUnlock
- Choose the right answer: what do you say?QuizUnlock
- Read the manager's reply to a review and fill in the gapsFill in the gapsUnlock
- Read Matthias's email and choose the right wordsChoose the optionUnlock

Grammar: short replies with so, neither and emphatic do

In short replies the auxiliary does the work. To agree, So or Neither goes before the auxiliary and the subject: So do I. Neither have I. To disagree, subject + auxiliary is enough: Oh, I don't. Emphatic do adds force to a positive verb: I did read it!

So do I, neither do I, I did!

Agree, disagree and insist with short replies: the auxiliary does the work.

So / Neither + auxiliary + subject

So answers a positive statement, Neither or Nor a negative one, and the subject comes last: “I love mysteries.” “So do I.” “Tom can't swim.” “Nor can his sister.”

So (+) · Neither / Nor (−)auxiliarysubject

“I love mysteries.” “So do I.”

“I haven't read it.” “Neither have I.”

“Tom can't swim.” “Nor can his sister.”

The auxiliary copies the first verb

The present simple takes do or does, the past simple did; be repeats am, is or was; perfect tenses repeat have or had; modals repeat themselves: “I'll be late.” “So will I.”

The verb	They say	You agree	You disagree
present simple	I love poetry.	So do I.	Oh, I don't.
present simple: he, she, it	Mia reads a lot.	So does Leo.	Leo doesn't.
past simple	I didn't like it.	Neither did I.	I did!
be: present	I'm tired.	So am I.	I'm not.
be: past	I wasn't at the party.	Neither was I.	I was.
present perfect	I've read it twice.	So have I.	I haven't.
past perfect	I'd never heard of her.	Neither had I.	I had.
can	I can't read on trains.	Neither can I.	I can.
will	I'll be late.	So will I.	I won't.
would	I'd love a sequel.	So would I.	I wouldn't.

Me too, me neither and disagreeing

Me too and I do too agree with a positive; Me neither and I don't either with a negative. To disagree, stress subject + auxiliary: “I loved it.” “Oh, I didn't.” “I've never been there.” “I have.”

Agree with a positive (+)

So do I. · Me too. · I do too.
“I loved it.” “So did I.” / “Me too.” / “I did too.”

Agree with a negative (−)

Neither do I. · Nor do I. · Me neither. · I don't either.
“I can't sleep.” “Neither can I.” / “Me neither.” (not: Neither can't I)

Disagree

subject + auxiliary, said with stress
“I loved it.” “Oh, I didn't.”
“I've never been there.” “I have.”

Never, hate and I'd

Never makes a statement negative: “I never read reviews.” “Neither do I.” Hate and dislike are positive verbs, so So do I. With I'd, check the verb: I'd love → So would I; I'd never heard → Neither had I.

Good to know

never makes a sentence negative: “I never read reviews.” “Neither do I.” But hate and dislike are positive verbs: “I hate spoilers.” “So do I.” Me too and Me neither are informal and fine in chats. With I'd, check the verb: I'd love → So would I; I'd never heard → Neither had I.

Emphatic do, does and did

Do, does or did before the base verb insists (I did read the book!), corrects, contrasts (but I do eat fish) or shows strong feeling. Be and modals take stress on the verb instead: I AM listening!

Normal	Emphatic	Why?
I read the book.	I did read the book!	someone doesn't believe you: you insist
She likes you.	She does like you.	to correct what someone thinks
…but I eat fish.	I don't eat meat, but I do eat fish.	contrast
I love your garden.	I do love your garden!	a strong feeling
Sit down.	Do sit down.	a warm, polite invitation
I'm listening!	I AM listening!	be and modals: no do; stress the verb instead

Common mistakes

The usual slips are word order (So I do, Neither I can), the wrong auxiliary (“I like jazz.” “So am I.”) and an extra ending after emphatic does: She does wants to come needs does want.

“I love it.” “So I do.”
“So do I.”
So + auxiliary + subject
“I can't skate.” “Neither I can.”
“Neither can I.”
Neither + auxiliary + subject
“I like jazz.” “So am I.”
“So do I.”
like is present simple: do
She does wants to come.
She does want to come.
do / does / did + base verb

Examples

“I'm on chapter ten.” “So am I.”be: am, is, are
“Ana didn't come.” “Neither did Tom.”past simple: did
“My cat hates the vet.” “So does mine!”he, she, it: does
“I've never been to Peru.” “Neither have I.”never: Neither
“I don't like sushi.” “Oh, I do.”disagree
“You didn't call me!” “I did call you! Twice!”emphatic did

Try the so, neither and emphatic do exercises

Try them yourself: these are the same exercises your students do in edio.

What's in the lesson

42 auto-checked exercises
4 games
1 real-life document
1 grammar scheme
1 picture

The main objectives of this lesson are to:

agree with the auxiliary of the first verb: “I'm so tired today.” “So am I.” “I didn't see the sign.” “Neither did I.”
choose so or neither by the statement's form: “I hate waiting in line.” “So do I.” “I never drink coffee after six.” “Neither do I.”
disagree with subject + auxiliary: “I can't cook.” “Really? I can.” “My sister doesn't eat fish.” “Mine does.”
insist or contrast with emphatic do: I did lock it! I checked twice. I don't eat much meat, but I do eat chicken now and then.

Grammar:: so do I · neither do I · short replies · auxiliary verbs · emphatic do
Topic:: grammar practice · books and reading · book clubs · opinions

Teaching tips

Go round the room with true sentences: one student says I can't whistle, and each classmate answers for themselves with Neither can I or Really? I can.
Stress the auxiliary out loud: model I DID lock it! and Oh, I DON'T, then pairs read the matched complaints and answers back with the same stress.
Hold a two-minute book club: pick a film or book the whole class knows and let students trade opinions in short replies only, like I loved the ending. – So did I.

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The whole course: English Grammar Practice · B2

English Grammar Practice · B2 has 24 drill lessons, one grammar point each: the future perfect and continuous, the third and mixed conditionals, wishes, past modals, the impersonal passive, have something done, participle clauses, reporting verbs and verb patterns. Each has the rule as a scheme, 43 to 47 exercises that check themselves, 15 of them for homework, and no new words.See the course

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