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.
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
- 'I love jazz.' 'So do I.'
- 'She can't drive.' 'Neither can I.'
- He was tired, and so were the others.
- I haven't seen it, and nor has she.
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
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.