Episode 46: So Do I / Neither Do I

so/neither + auxiliary — Social situations, various moments (B1-B2)

Grammar Box

Meaning: We use “so” + auxiliary + subject to agree with positive statements, and “neither/nor” + auxiliary + subject to agree with negative statements.

Form: So/Neither + auxiliary (do/does/did/am/is/are/have/can/will) + subject

Example 1: “I love coffee.” — “So do I.” (I also love coffee)

Example 2: “I can’t swim.” — “Neither can I.” (I also can’t swim)

Common mistake: Wrong: So I do. / Neither I can. Better: So do I. / Neither can I.

The Challenge

Luna met a new friend at a cafe. “I love reading historical fiction,” the friend said. Luna wanted to say “Me too,” but she remembered Professor Wisdom saying there was a more elegant way. “So do I”? “So I do”? She wasn’t sure about the word order. The watch glowed softly. Professor Wisdom appeared with a gentle smile. “Agreement,” he said, “is the foundation of connection. The way we say ‘me too’ reveals the grammar of belonging. Come. I’ll show you moments where shared experience changed everything.”

The Journey

Paris, 1920s. A smoky café filled with expatriate writers — Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Stein. They weren’t just drinking coffee. They were creating community through shared confession. Hemingway spoke first: “I struggled with the opening for weeks.” Fitzgerald leaned forward: “So did I.” Stein added, “I hate flowery descriptions.” Hemingway nodded: “Neither do I.”

Each “so do I” or “neither do I” was a bridge. They weren’t just saying “same here” — they were saying “you’re not alone.” When Hemingway admitted, “I can’t write when I’m happy,” and Fitzgerald responded, “Neither can I,” it wasn’t small talk. It was recognition. In those two words, isolation became fellowship.

The pattern continued. “I’ve rewritten this scene twelve times.” — “So have I.” “I don’t believe in inspiration.” — “Neither do I.” Each agreement built trust. By midnight, these writers — who could have been rivals — had become collaborators, sharing drafts, offering criticism, pushing each other toward greatness.

Decades later, literary historians would analyze what made the Lost Generation so productive. The answer wasn’t just talent. It was connection. Those simple agreements — “So do I,” “Neither do I” — created a space where vulnerability was strength. When you admit struggle and someone says, “So do I,” you realize the struggle isn’t failure. It’s the work itself. And suddenly, you’re not alone in the fight.

The café is long gone. But the books remain. And in them, you can still hear the echo of those agreements — the grammar of belonging that turned lonely writers into a movement.

The Deep Dive

These agreement structures show shared experience efficiently and elegantly. The key is matching the auxiliary verb to the original statement. If someone says “I like coffee” (present simple), we respond “So do I” (using “do”). If they say “I’m tired” (be verb), we say “So am I.” The auxiliary must match the tense and form of the original verb.

For positive statements, we use “so + auxiliary + subject.” For negative statements, we use “neither + auxiliary + subject” or “nor + auxiliary + subject” (more formal). The word order is inverted — auxiliary before subject. “So I do” or “Neither I can” are incorrect. This inversion is a fixed pattern in English agreement structures.

Common alternatives exist but mean slightly different things. “Me too” is casual and common. “So do I” is more formal and emphasizes the auxiliary. “I do too” is also correct but less emphatic. In professional or formal contexts, “So do I / Neither do I” sounds more polished and shows grammatical sophistication.

More Examples

History: “I believe democracy is worth fighting for.” — “So do I,” said countless soldiers throughout history.

Science: “I haven’t found a solution yet.” — “Neither have I,” admitted Einstein’s colleagues during difficult research periods.

Everyday: “I’m exhausted after work.” — “So am I. Let’s order takeout instead of cooking.”

Formal: “I cannot support this proposal.” — “Neither can I. The risks outweigh the benefits.”

Informal: “I loved that movie!” — “So did I! Want to watch the sequel?”

Contrast: “Me too” (casual) vs “So do I” (more formal, emphasizes agreement with specific action).

Practice & Reflection

Exercises:

Fill in the blank: “I’ve been to Paris three times.” — “__ have I.” (So / Neither)
Correct the mistake: “I don’t like horror movies.” — “So don’t I.”
Choose and explain: “I can speak Spanish.” Which response shows agreement?
a) So I can.
b) So can I.
Rewrite: “I’m not ready to leave.” → Create an agreement response: “__”
Compare: What’s the difference between “Me too” and “So do I” when responding to “I love chocolate”?
Your reflection: Think of something you’ve struggled with. Write how someone might agree using this structure.

Answer Key:

So — positive statement needs “so,” and auxiliary matches “have”
Neither don’t I OR Neither do I — negative needs “neither,” not “so”
b) So can I — auxiliary comes before subject in this structure
Neither am I — negative statement + be verb
Same meaning; “Me too” is casual, “So do I” is more formal/polished
Check: Did you use “So/Neither + auxiliary + I” with inverted word order?

The Lesson

At the café, Luna’s new friend finished her sentence. Luna smiled: “So do I.” The friend’s face brightened. Two words. Instant connection. The watch faded. Luna thought about those writers in Paris. They didn’t just share ideas — they shared struggles. Every “So do I” was permission to be imperfect. Every “Neither do I” was proof they weren’t alone. Grammar isn’t just structure. Sometimes, it’s exactly what loneliness needs to become community.