This document discusses ways to agree with affirmative and negative statements in English using short expressions. It provides examples of agreeing with positive statements using "too" and "so", and with negative statements using "either" and "neither". Specifically, it notes that "too" and "so" are used for agreeing with two positive statements, while "either" and "neither" are used for agreeing with two negative statements. It also provides guidance on grammar and word order for these short agreements.

1. Agreeing
with Affirmative
and Negative Statements
So, too, either, neither
K Reyes, MiraCosta College

2. Agreeing
• In conversational English, short expressions
of agreement are commonly used when one
person has the same idea as another.

3. To agree using short statements
Use auxiliary verbs and modals
• Simple present and present continuous:
am, are, is, do, does
• Simple past and past continuous:
was, were, did
• Present and past perfect:
has, have, had
• Modals:
will, should, would, could, may, might, can, must

4. Agreeing with Affirmative Statements
1. Too
A: I am originally from another country.
B: I am, too.
A: I love to cook.
B: I do, too.
Form: Subject + auxiliary verb/modal, too.

5. Agreeing with Affirmative Statements
2. So
A: I speak English.
B: So do I.
A: I have traveled to other states in the USA.
B: So have I.
Form: So + auxiliary verb/modal + subject.

6. Agreeing with Negative Statements
3. Either
A: I was not born in the USA.
B: I wasn’t, either.
A: I don’t like bananas.
B: I don’t, either.
Form: Subject + auxiliary verb/modal + not, either.

7. Agreeing with Negative Statements
4. Neither
A: I didn’t sleep well last night.
B: Neither did I.
A: I don’t have a job right now.
B: Neither do I.
Form: Neither + auxiliary verb/modal (affirmative)
+ subject.

8. Examples with “so” and “too”

9. Examples with “neither” and “either”

10. Summary
• Too and so
– used for two positive ( + ) statements
• Either and neither
– used for two negative ( - ) statements
• With “too” and “either” – put these words
at of the short response
• Start short responses with “So” and
“Neither” followed by auxiliary verb and
then the subject (change position subject –
verb to verb – subject)

11. Let’s practice:
Agree with affirmative (so, too)
A: I'm studying English.
B: So am I.
B: I am, too.
A: I feel sleepy.
B: So do I.
B: I do, too.
A: I was absent from school last week.
B: So was I.
B: I was, too.
A: I have missed work recently because I was sick.
B: So have I.
B: I have, too.

12. Let’s practice:
Agree with negative (neither, either)
A: I'm not hungry.
B: Neither am I.
B: I’m not, either.
A: I don't have an eraser.
B: Neither do I.
B: I don’t, either.
A: I didn't eat much for lunch.
B: Neither did I.
B: I didn’t, either.
A: I haven't seen any good movies lately.
B: Neither have I.
B: I haven’t, either.

13. What if the two ideas are NOT the
same? (disagreement)
Use But
A: I’m sleepy.
B: I'm not. / But I'm not.
A: I don’t want to go to the party.
A: I do. / But I do.
A: I slept really well last night.
B: I didn’t. / But I didn't.
A: I haven't seen this movie before.
B: I have. / But I have.
A: I would prefer to watch TV.
B: I wouldn’t. But I wouldn't.
sleepy
not
sleepy