Sometimes we use a short answer to agree with someone. We use 'so' to mean 'also' or 'as well as' (to agree with a positive sentence) and 'neither' to mean 'also not' (to agree with a negative sentence). The verb is always positive. We put 'so / neither' first, then the verb and then the subject. The subject can be a noun or a pronoun.

• A: I am from London. B: So am I (= I am also from London)
• A: I'm not from New York. B: Neither am I (= I am also not from New York).

Here are some examples with the present simple. For all verbs except 'be', we use so / neither + do / does + subject.

• John: I hate mushrooms. Me: So do I (= I also hate mushrooms).
• Lucy: I don't live in London. Me: Neither do I (= I also don't live in London. For example, maybe Lucy and I both live in Paris).
• James: I want a coffee! Me: So does Lucy
• Me: I don't exercise much. You: Neither do we.

For the verb 'be' in the present simple, we use 'am / is / are'.

• Maria: I'm cold. Me: So am I.
• Keiko: We aren't at home. Me: Neither are we.
• David: She isn't happy. Me: Neither is James.

We can use short answers with 'so' and 'neither' in any tense.

Present continuous

We use so / neither + am / is / are + subject

• A: I'm going home. B: So am I.
• A: She isn't living there. B: Neither is he.

Past simple

We use so / neither + did + subject with all verbs except 'be'. With 'be', we use so / neither + was / were + subject.

• A: He was at home. B: So was she.
• A: They weren't happy. B: Neither were we.
• A: The children went to the park. B: So did the adults.
• A: She didn't finish the essay. B: Neither did he.

Future with 'will'

We use so / neither + will + subject.

• A: I'll go. B: So will I.
• A: She won't do the work. B: Neither will he.

Future with 'be going to'

We use so / neither + am / is / are + subject.

• A: I'm going to read the book. B: So am I.
• A: They aren't going to meet the boss. B: Neither are we.

Present perfect

We use so / neither + have / has + subject.

• A: She's been to Morocco. B: So have I.
• A: The children haven't eaten yet. B: Neither has Lucy.

Past perfect

We use so / neither + had + subject.

• A: I had already studied this. B: So had we.
• A: The students hadn't been home. B: Neither had the teachers.

Future continuous

We use so / neither + will + subject.

• A: I'll be waiting. B: So will I.
• A: She won't be coming with us. B: Neither will he.

Past continuous

We use so / neither + was / were + subject.

• A: I was working at 8pm. B: So was I.
• A: The children were playing tennis. B: So were we.