Emphasis

• 12 Emphasis

  12.1

  Emphasis with so and such

  

  

  so and such are used to intensify meaning ('so...that' or 'such...that'), often followed by that to introduce a result.

  • so + adjective / adverb (+ that …).
  • such + (a/an) + adjective + noun (+ that …).

  （它）It （过去）was 如此so 冷cold 以至于that （冠词）the 湖lake 结冰froze.

  It is so cold that the lake has frozen over.

  （它）It （过去）was 如此such 一个a 好good 电影film 以至于that 我I 哭了cried.

  That movie was so good that I cried.

  Note: Follow so with an adjective (so cold); follow such with a noun phrase (such a good film).

  12.2

  So do I, Neither do I

  To express "Me too" or "Me neither," English uses a short inverted structure where the auxiliary verb must match the previous sentence:

  • Affirmative agreement: So + auxiliary verb + subject (So do I / So am I / So can I).
  • Negative agreement: Neither + auxiliary verb + subject (Neither do I / Neither am I).

  "I like tea." — 也So （助动词）do 我I.

  "I like tea." — "Me too."

  "I can't swim." — 也不Neither （助动词）can 我I.

  "I can't swim." — "Neither can I."

  Note: The auxiliary verb must match the tense/verb of the previous sentence: if the previous sentence uses are → So are they; if it uses don't → Neither do I.

  Common Errors

  • ❌ "I love this song." — ~~So am I.~~ → ✓ So do I. — The agreeing auxiliary must match the previous sentence: main verbs → do / does / did; be → am / is; can → can.
  • ❌ "I don't like it." — ~~Me too.~~ → ✓ Me neither. / Neither do I. — Do not use too for negative agreements.
  • ❌ "I can't swim." — ~~So can't I.~~ → ✓ Neither can I. — Negative inversion begins with neither / nor, never so + negative.
  • To emphasize "really," avoid using very + verb: ❌ ~~I very like it.~~ → ✓ I do like it. / I really like it. — Placing the auxiliary do before the verb creates emphasis.

All topics · English Grammar · B2