Unit 51. Auxiliary verbs (have / do / can etc.) I think so / I hope so etc.
Unit 51; Part A

I She The hotel Where | have can't was do you | lost come built live? | my keys. to the party. ten years ago. |
In these examples have/can't/was/do are auxiliary (= helping) verbs.
You can use an auxiliary verb when you don't want to repeat something:
• 'Have you locked the door?' 'Yes, I have.' (= I have locked the door)
• George wasn't working, but Janet was. (= Janet was working)
• She could lend me the money, but she won't. (= she won't lend me the money)
Use do/does/did for the present and past simple:
• 'Do you like onions?' 'Yes, I do.' (= I like onions)
• 'Does Simon live in London?' 'He did, but he doesn't any more.'
You can use auxiliary verbs to deny what somebody says (= say it is not true):
• 'You're sitting in my place.' 'No, I'm not.' (= I'm not sitting in your place)
• 'You didn't lock the door before you left.' 'Yes, I did.' (= I locked the door)
Unit 51; Part B

• 'I've just seen Simon.' 'Oh, have you? How is he?'
• 'Liz isn't very well today.' 'Oh, isn't she? What's wrong with her?'
• 'It rained every day during our holiday.' 'Did it? What a pity!'
• 'Jim and Nora are getting married.' 'Are they? Really?'
Unit 51; Part C

• 'I'm feeling tired.' 'So am I.' (= I'm feeling tired too)
• 'I never read newspapers.' 'Neither do I.' (= I never read newspapers either)
• Sue hasn't got a car and neither has Martin.
Note the word order after so and neither (verb before subject):
• I passed the exam and so did Paul. (not so Paul did)
Instead of neither, you can use nor. You can also use not ... either:
• 'I don't know.' 'Neither do I.' or 'Nor do I.' or 'I don't either."
Unit 51; Part D

After some verbs you can use so when you don't want to repeat something:
• 'Are those people English?' 'I think so.' (= I think they are English)
• 'Will you be at home this evening?' 'I expect so.' (= I expect I'll be at home ...)
• 'Do you think Kate has been invited to the part)?' 'I suppose so.'
In the same way we say: I hope so, I guess so and I'm afraid so.
The usual negative forms are:
I think so / I expect so I hope so / I'm afraid so /I guess so I suppose so | → I don't think so / I don't expect so → I hope not / I'm afraid not / I guess not → I don't suppose so or I suppose not |
• 'Is that woman American?' 'I think so. / I don't think so.'
• 'Do you think it will rain?' 'I hope so. / I hope not.' (not I don't hope so)
Exercises
![]() | Unit 50 Unit 51 Unit 52 | ![]() |