So - Neither - Either

SO is used to show agreement with positive statements.

SO + Auxiliary + Subject (pronoun)

The Auxiliary needs to agree with the verb tense in the original statement.

It is similar to using TOO at the end of a sentence.

Person A	Person B
I am happy.	So am I. (= I am happy too)
I’m going to Brazil in the summer.	So am I. (= I am going to Brazil too)
You look nice today.	So do you. (= you look nice too.)
Stephanie has a new boyfriend.	So does Mary. (= Mary has a new one too.)
We went to the concert last night.	So did I. (= I went to the concert too.)
I would love a coffee right now.	So would I. (= I would love a coffee too.)
He will win a prize.	So will I. (= I will win one too.)
They have finished their homework.	So have I. (= I have finished too.)
I can speak two languages.	So can I. (= I can speak two too.)
He should study more.	So should I. (= I should study more too.)
We could see the mountains.	So could we. (= We could see them too.)
My brother had eaten too much.	So had I. (= I had eaten too much too.)

Neither is used to show agreement with negative statements.

Neither + Auxiliary + Subject (pronoun)

The Auxiliary needs to agree with the verb tense in the original statement.

It is similar to using either at the end of a sentence, although Neither is more commonly used, especially in spoken English.

A: I don't understand Spanish.
B: Neither do I. (= I don't understand Spanish either.)

A: I cannot swim.
B: Neither can I. (= I can't swim either.)

Sometimes people respond Me Neither instead of Neither + Auxiliary + Subject though this is very informal spoken English.

Person A	Person B
I am not hungry.	Neither am I. (= I'm not hungry either)
I'm not going to quit.	Neither am I. (= I'm not going to quit either)
They don't speak French.	Neither do I. (= I don't speak French either.)
Stephanie doesn't eat meat.	Neither does Mary. (= Mary doesn't eat meat either.)
Mary didn't go to the party.	Neither did I. (= I didn't go either.)
I wouldn't like to do his job.	Neither would I. (= I wouldn't like to do it either.)
He won't stop talking.	Neither will you. (= You won't stop either.)
You haven't finished your meal.	Neither have you. (= You haven't finished either.)
Mike can't reach the top shelf.	Neither can I. (= I can't reach it either.)
You shouldn't talk in the movie.	Neither should you. (= You shouldn't talk either.)
We couldn't hear him.	Neither could we. (= We couldn't hear him either.)
I hadn't seen her before.	Neither had I. (= I hadn't seen her before either.)

Try our interactive game to practice the difference between these words at: So - Neither - Either

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Last Updated: 01 January 2009