Grammar · Verb & Sentence Basics

Auxiliary Verbs & Short Answers (So Do I / Neither Do I)

Say yes, say no, and say “me too” with one small helper word. Learn it with the film Wreck-It Ralph.

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The rule in one sentenceDo not say the whole verb again. Use the small helper word (the auxiliary): Yes, I do, So do I, Neither do I.

About the film

Wreck-It Ralph is a film from 2012. Ralph is the bad guy in a video game. Is he happy? No, he isn’t. He wants a medal. Vanellope wants to race in a candy game. Does she like racing? Yes, she does. Ralph likes her, and she likes him. So do we!

What does the helper word do?

In English, we do not say the whole verb again. We use a small helper word: do, does, did, am, is, are, can, have. This word is enough. Everyone knows the rest.

Look at a short answer. Felix asks Ralph a question. Ralph says yes or no with the helper word only:

Felix: “Do you want a medal?” – Ralph: “Yes, I do.”

Felix: “Do you like this game?” – Ralph: “No, I don’t.”

Ralph: “Is Vanellope fast?” – Felix: “Yes, she is.”

Ralph: “Can Felix fix it?” – Vanellope: “Yes, he can.”

Now look at “me too”. After a yes sentence, say so + helper word + I. After a no sentence, say neither + helper word + I. The helper word must match:

So + helper word + I

Neither + helper word + I

do / does I like games. → So do I.

do / does I don’t like games. → Neither do I.

am / is / are I am tired. → So am I.

am / is / are I’m not tired. → Neither am I.

can I can race. → So can I.

can I can’t race. → Neither can I.

did I went there. → So did I.

did I didn’t go. → Neither did I.

have I have a medal. → So have I.

have I haven’t got one. → Neither have I.

People say the short form for no. Learn both:

do not → don’tdoes not → doesn’tdid not → didn’tis not → isn’tare not → aren’tcannot → can’tShort form in the no answer: No, I don’t. Never in the yes answer: Yes, I am, not “Yes, I’m”.

Vanellope: “I want to race.” – Ralph: “So do I.” Vanellope: “I don’t like King Candy.” – Ralph: “Neither do I.”
Yes sentence → so. No sentence → neither. The helper word stays the same: do.

Look at the word order. After so or neither, the helper word comes first. Then I:

Felix: “I am happy.” – Ralph: “So am I.”

Calhoun: “I can fight.” – Ralph: “So can I.”

Vanellope: “I didn’t win.” – Ralph: “Neither did I.”

Ralph: “I’m not small.” – Calhoun: “Neither am I.”

Visual guide

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How to make it

Short answers

Yes / No+person+helper word

Yes, he does.

helper word only, no short form

−

No, he doesn’t.

don’t / doesn’t / didn’t / isn’t / can’t

Does Ralph want a medal?

The helper word in the question is the one you answer with.

Agreeing: so / neither

So / Neither+helper word+person

So do I.

after a yes sentence

−

Neither do I.

after a no sentence

The helper word must match.

I am → So am I. She can → So can she. They went → So did they.

When to use each one

So — me too

You like the same thing: “I love racing.” – “So do I.”
You feel the same: “I’m happy today.” – “So am I.”
You can do the same: “Felix can fix things.” – “So can Ralph.”
You did the same: “I took the train to Sugar Rush.” – “So did I.”

Neither — me neither

You don’t like it either: “I don’t like the dark.” – “Neither do I.”
You don’t feel it either: “I’m not scared.” – “Neither am I.”
You can’t do it either: “I can’t drive.” – “Neither can I.”
You didn’t do it either: “I didn’t get a medal.” – “Neither did I.”

Words that help: so or neither?

Listen to the first sentence. Is it yes or no?

So → “me too”

after a yes sentenceSo do ISo am ISo can ISo did I

Neither → “me neither”

after a no sentenceNeither do INeither am INeither can INeither did I

Common mistakes

❌ “Do you like racing?” – “Yes, I like.”

✅ “Do you like racing?” – “Yes, I do.”

Do not say the verb again. Say the helper word: do.

❌ “I love this game.” – “So I do.”

✅ “I love this game.” – “So do I.”

After so, the helper word comes first. Then I.

❌ “I don’t want to be the bad guy.” – “So do I.”

✅ “I don’t want to be the bad guy.” – “Neither do I.”

The first sentence is a no sentence. No sentence → neither.

❌ “I am tired of this.” – “So do I.”

✅ “I am tired of this.” – “So am I.”

The helper word must match. Am → So am I.

One more thing

This part is a little harder. You can come back to it later.

“Me too” and “Me neither”. With friends, you can say these two words. They mean the same as so do I and neither do I. You do not need a helper word.
✅ Vanellope: “I love this game.” – Ralph: “Me too.” ✅ Ralph: “I can’t stop.” – Vanellope: “Me neither.”

Practice: choose the right words

Eight questions. Choose one answer. You get the answer, and why.

1. Vanellope: “Do you want a medal?” Ralph: “Yes, I ___.”

A short answer uses the helper word only: Yes, I do.

2. Ralph: “I love racing.” Vanellope: “___”

After so, the helper word comes first: So do I.

3. Felix: “I don’t like the dark.” Ralph: “___”

Felix says a no sentence. Agree with neither: Neither do I.

4. Calhoun: “I am tired.” Felix: “___”

Calhoun says am. The helper word must match: So am I.

5. Vanellope: “Are you the bad guy?” Ralph: “Yes, I ___.”

The question has are, so the answer has am: Yes, I am.

6. Ralph: “I can’t race.” Vanellope: “___”

Ralph says can’t. Use can after neither: Neither can I.

7. Felix: “I went to Sugar Rush.” Calhoun: “___”

Went is past. The helper word for the past is did: So did I.

8. Felix: “Does Vanellope like racing?” Ralph: “Yes, she ___.”

Vanellope is she, so the helper word is does: Yes, she does.

Your turn

Who agrees? Choose one. Then listen to your sentence.

Vanellope: “I love racing!” – Ralph: “So do …”

Ralph: “I don’t want to be the bad guy.” – The others: “Neither do …”

Every word here is correct. The helper word is do, so any person works. Say it out loud too!

Keep going

Next lessonZero Conditional →

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Auxiliary Verbs & Short Answers (So Do I / Neither Do I) — English Grammar (A2)