Grammar

So / Neither / Nor (Agreement Additions)

To agree with or add to a previous statement, English uses 'so' for positives and 'neither/nor' for negatives, followed by an inverted auxiliary and subject.

Post

Level B1 Sentence Structure & Emphasis

Summary

To agree with or add to a previous statement, English uses 'so' for positives and 'neither/nor' for negatives, followed by an inverted auxiliary and subject.

Structure

So + auxiliary + subject ; Neither/Nor + auxiliary + subject

Examples

Common mistakes

• Forgetting inversion: 'So I do' should be 'So do I'.
• Using the wrong auxiliary: it must match the original verb's tense and form.

Related

Ellipsis and Substitution

More sentence structure & emphasis

Basic Word Order A1

English statements normally follow subject + verb + object order. Adverbs and time expressions go in fixed positions rather than between the verb and its object.

And, But, Or A1

These conjunctions join words, phrases, or clauses. 'And' adds, 'but' contrasts, and 'or' offers a choice.

Inversion After Negative Adverbials C2

When a negative or restrictive adverbial begins a sentence for emphasis, the subject and auxiliary invert as in a question. This is a formal, dramatic device.

Cleft Sentences C1

Cleft sentences split one idea into two clauses to emphasise a particular element. 'It-clefts' begin with 'It is/was', and 'what-clefts' (pseudo-clefts) begin with a 'what'-clause.

Subjunctive / Were C1

English keeps a small subjunctive. The present subjunctive uses the base verb after verbs of demand or suggestion, and the past subjunctive 'were' is used for all persons in unreal conditions.

Ellipsis and Substitution C1

To avoid repetition, English omits words (ellipsis) or replaces them with shorter forms like 'so', 'do', 'one', and 'neither' (substitution). Both keep sentences economical and cohesive.

External links

markdown