Statement parallel addition contrast

John can speak French and I can, too but I can't

John can't speak French and I can't, either but I can

John speaks French and I do, too but I don't

John doesn 't speak French and I don't either but I do

Additions and responses

 

statement	parallel addition	contrast
John can speak French	and so can I	but I can't
John can't speak French	and neither/nor can I	but I can
John speaks French	and so do I	but I don't
John doesn't speak French	and neither/nor do I	but I do
statement	parallel response
John can speak French	I can, too or	So can I
John can't speak French	I can't, either or	Neither/Nor can I
John speaks French	I do, too or	So do I
John doesn't speak French	I don't, either or	Neither/Nor do I
statement	confirmation, surprised agreement, etc.
She's going to help us	So she is!
Jean retires soon	So she does!

When and how we use additions and responses

Contracted forms with 'so', 'nor', etc.

Additions and responses with so, neither and nor are contracted where possible. These contractions do not normally occur in writing, even in written dialogue, but they are often used in speech: So'm I, Neither m I, Nor'm I. So's he (So is he/So has he); Nor's he (Nor is he/Nor has he). So've I, Neither've I, Nor've I So'll I, Neither'll I, Nor'll /• So'd you (So had/would you); Neither'd you (Neither had/would you); Nor'd you (Nor had/would you).

The use of auxiliaries with 'so', 'nor', etc.

The auxiliary is repeated in the parallel addition or response. If there is no auxiliary, do, does or did must be used. This makes it unnecessary to repeat a clause:

You should work less and so should I

You shouldn't work so hard and nor should I

I went to a meeting last night - So didI.

Too' and 'either' in affirmative and negative statements

Either must replace too in negative statements [> 7.56]: / went to the meeting too I didn't goto the meeting eitherVery informally Me too, Nor me, Me neither are often used in responses [> 4.7.2]. Other nouns and object pronouns are possible: I'm glad it's Friday - Me too! (Iam too) Us too! (We are too) / don't want to go to a political meeting - Nor me/Me neither!

So', 'neither' and 'nor' in additions and responses

In parallel additions and responses, so is followed by auxiliary + subject: so did /, etc. In confirmations so is followed by subject + auxiliary: So you have, etc. Compare:

I've got a rash on my arm and so have you

I've got a rash on my arm - So you have!

I've got a new car - So has John.

John's got a new car - So he has!

Neither and nor are completely interchangeable in additions and responses [> 13.28].

13 Questions answers negatives

Question-word questions: form and use