Basics. Agreement Patterns: So, Too, Neither, and Either: correct answers
Jump to answers ↓Agreeing with Positive Statements
When someone makes a positive statement and you want to say that the same is true for you, you can use So + auxiliary + subject or Subject + auxiliary + too.
The most important rule for both patterns is that you must use the same auxiliary (helping) verb that was used in the original sentence. If there is no auxiliary verb (like in the present or past simple), use do, does, or did.
- "I am terrified of spiders." ✅ "So am I." (or "I am too.")
- "I love cold pizza." (Present simple = do) ✅ "So do I." (or "I do too.")
- "I can swim." ✅ "So can I." (or "I can too.")
In informal spoken English, you can simply say "Me too" regardless of the verb tense.
Agreeing with Negative Statements
When someone makes a negative statement (using words like not, don't, can't, didn't), you cannot use so or too. Instead, you must use Neither + positive auxiliary + subject or Subject + negative auxiliary + either.
Because neither already contains a negative meaning, the auxiliary verb that follows it must be positive. If you use either, the auxiliary verb must be negative.
- "I don't want to wake up early." ✅ "Neither do I." (or "I don't either.")
- "I can't fly without a cape." ✅ "Neither can I." (or "I can't either.")
- "I didn't understand the movie." ✅ "Neither did I." (or "I didn't either.")
Just like with positive statements, there is a quick, informal alternative for negative agreement: "Me neither."
Common Mistakes to Avoid
The most frequent mistake learners make with these patterns is mixing up the word order after So and Neither. These words require subject-verb inversion, meaning the verb comes before the subject.
- "I am exhausted." ✅ "So am I." ❌ "So I am." (This actually means "You are right, I am exhausted!" rather than "I am exhausted too.")
Another major trap is the "double negative" when using neither. Since neither means "not either," adding another negative word makes the sentence grammatically incorrect.
- "I don't like garlic." ✅ "Neither do I." ❌ "Neither don't I."
Finally, be careful not to blindly reply with "So do I" to every statement. You must listen to the specific verb the other person used. If they use the verb to be, a modal like can, or talk in the past tense, your reply must match!
- "I was completely lost." ✅ "So was I." ❌ "So did I."
Correct answers
Question 1
Complete the conversation between two terrible chefs by selecting the correct response.
Chef Leo: "I can't even boil water without burning the pot!" Chef Mia: "_____! We should probably just order a pizza instead."
The correct answer is Neither can I.
To agree with a negative statement ("I can't..."), we use "Neither" followed by the matching auxiliary verb and the subject. "I can't too" is incorrect because "too" is only used for positive agreements.
Question 2
Drag the correct words to help the confused detectives agree on the facts of a very silly crime scene.
Detective A: "I didn't see any footprints near the giant cheese wheel."
Detective B: "To be honest, neither did I. It's a total mystery!"
Detective A: "I was completely baffled by the missing crackers."
Detective B: "Trust me, so was I."
To be honest, neither did I. It's a total mystery!
We use "neither + auxiliary + subject" to agree with a negative statement. The first sentence uses the past simple negative "didn't see", so the matching auxiliary is "did".
Trust me, so was I.
We use "so + auxiliary + subject" to agree with an affirmative statement. The first sentence uses the past tense of "to be" ("was"), so we match it with "was".
Question 3
Choose the correct phrase to complete the lazy cats' conversation.
Barnaby: "I don't want to chase that fast mouse today." Garfield: "I _____! Let's just take a long nap on the couch."
The correct answer is don't either.
When agreeing with a negative statement by putting the subject first, the correct pattern is Subject + negative auxiliary + "either" (I don't either). "Too" is only for positive statements, and "neither don't" creates an incorrect double negative.
Question 4
The correct answers are Neither did I., I didn't either., and Me neither.
When agreeing with a negative statement, we use neither, not... either, or me neither.
Since Dave's statement is in the past simple tense (didn't), Sarah's response must match that tense by using the auxiliary verb did.
Remember to avoid double negatives! "I didn't neither" is incorrect because didn't and neither are both negative words.
Question 5
Complete the supervillains' conversation as they bond over their lack of basic evil skills. Drag the correct words into the blanks.
Villain A: "I can't seem to build a working laser."
Villain B: "Honestly, neither can I! It always explodes."
Villain A: "I don't understand how to trap a hero properly."
Villain B: "My sidekick says I don't either. They always escape!"
Honestly, neither can I! It always explodes.
To agree with a negative statement ("can't build"), we use "neither + auxiliary + subject". The auxiliary must match the modal verb "can" used in the original sentence.
My sidekick says I don't either. They always escape!
Another way to agree with a negative statement is "subject + negative auxiliary + either". We use "don't" to match the present simple negative verb ("don't understand") from the first sentence.
Question 6
Roommate B: "_________________________. It makes the room feel so cozy!"
Roommate B: "I _________________________. We are going to be great friends!"
Roommate B: "So do I. It makes the room feel so cozy!"
When agreeing with an affirmative statement that uses an action verb (like "love"), we use the auxiliary verb "do". The pattern is So + do/does + subject.
Roommate B: "I am too. We are going to be great friends!"
When agreeing with an affirmative statement that uses the verb "to be" (like "am"), we must match that verb. The pattern is Subject + am/is/are + too.
Question 7
Help the vampires agree on their dinner preferences by choosing the correct response.
Vlad: "I absolutely hate the smell of garlic on a Friday night." Dracula: "_____! It completely ruins my breath."
The correct answer is So do I.
To agree with a positive statement in the present simple tense ("I hate..."), we use "So" + the auxiliary "do" + the subject. "So am I" uses the wrong auxiliary verb, and "Neither" is only used to agree with negative statements.
Question 8
The correct answers are Neither can I., I can't either., and Me neither.
To agree with a negative statement containing a modal verb like can't, you must use the same modal verb in your response.
"Neither can I" and "I can't either" both correctly reuse the modal can. "Me neither" is a common, informal way to agree with any negative statement. "So can't I" is incorrect because so is only used for positive agreements!
Question 9
Help the new roommates discover their shared quirks by dragging the correct words into their conversation.
Roommate A: "I love eating cold pizza for breakfast."
Roommate B: "Wow, so do I! It's the best."
Roommate A: "I am always completely lost before my morning coffee."
Roommate B: "Well, I am too, unfortunately."
Wow, so do I! It's the best.
We use "so + auxiliary + subject" to agree with an affirmative statement. Because the first sentence uses a present simple action verb ("love"), the correct auxiliary is "do".
Well, I am too, unfortunately.
We can also agree with an affirmative statement using "subject + auxiliary + too". Since the first sentence uses the "to be" verb ("am"), we must match it with "am".
Question 10
The correct answers are So am I., I am too., and Me too.
When agreeing with a positive statement, we use so, too, or me too.
Because Dracula's statement uses the "to be" verb (am), the response must also use the "to be" verb (am). Responses like "So do I" are incorrect because they use the wrong auxiliary verb. Keep an eye on the word order: it is "So am I," not "So I am."
Question 11
Student 2: "_________________________. It's way too early."
Student 2: "I _________________________. I need a giant cup of coffee immediately."
Student 2: "Neither do I. It's way too early."
To agree with a negative statement ("don't want"), we use "Neither". Because the original sentence uses the auxiliary "do", we match it: Neither + do + subject.
Student 2: "I can't either. I need a giant cup of coffee immediately."
When agreeing with a negative statement using "either", the structure is Subject + negative auxiliary + either. We never use a double negative like "can't neither".
Question 12
Applicant: "_________________________. They have too many legs!"
Applicant: "I _________________________. Walking is much safer anyway."
Applicant: "_________________________. I'm basically a professional coward!"
Applicant: "So am I. They have too many legs!"
The hero says "I am terrified," so the applicant must match the "to be" verb in their agreement.
Applicant: "I don't either. Walking is much safer anyway."
The hero gives a negative statement using "don't". The applicant agrees using the negative structure Subject + negative auxiliary + either.
Applicant: "So can I. I'm basically a professional coward!"
The hero makes an affirmative statement using the modal verb "can". The applicant agrees by matching the modal: So + can + subject.