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so am I, neither do they, etc

so + auxiliary + subject​

We can use so to mean ‘similarly, also’, before auxiliary verb + subject. The structure is used to answer or add to what came before. Note the word order.

  • Louise can dance beautifully, and so can her sister.
  • ‘I’ve lost their address.’ ‘So have I.’

The same structure is possible with non-auxiliary be and have.

  • I was tired, and so were the others.
  • ‘I have a headache.’ ‘So have I.’

After a clause with no auxiliary verb, we use do/does/did.

  • ‘He just wants the best for his country.’ ‘So did Hitler.’

We do not normally use a more complete verb phrase in this structure. We can say, for example, So can her sister, but not So can her sister dance.

A more informal alternative to So am I, etc is Me too.

  • ‘I’m getting bored.’ ‘Me too.’ (not I also.)

Neither do I, I can’t either, etc​

We can use neither and nor as adverbs to mean ‘also not’. Neither and nor come at the beginning of a clause, and are followed by inverted word order (see here): auxiliary verb + subject.

  • ‘I can’t swim.’ ‘Neither/nor can I. (not I also can’t.)’
  • Ruth didn’t turn up, and neither/nor did Kate. (not … and Kate didn’t too.)

In American English, nor is not normally used after and.

We can also use not … either with the same meaning and normal word order.

  • ‘I can’t swim.’ ‘I can’t either.’
  • Ruth didn’t turn up, and Kate didn’t either.

In very informal speech, me neither (and occasionally me either, especially in American English) can be used instead of I …n’t either.

  • ‘I can’t swim.’ ‘Me neither.’

Only one negative word (not or neither) is necessary to give a negative meaning.

  • Neither did Kate or Kate didn’t either. (not Neither didn’t Kate) or Kate didn’t neither
note

For the pronunciation of either, (see here).

For the pronunciation of neither, (see here).

For neither … nor, (see here).

For other uses of either and neither, (see here).

For not … or and not … nor, (see here).

so + subject + auxiliary: So it is!​

So is used in another short structure before subject + auxiliary verb (note the word order) to express surprised agreement.

  • ‘It’s raining.’ ‘Why, so it is!’
  • ‘You’ve just put the teapot in the fridge.’ ‘So I have!’