So do I / Neither do I: how to agree naturally in English
"Me too" works, but native speakers constantly reach for So do I and Neither do I. They're the glue of natural conversation — and they follow a simple pattern.
The pattern
Agree with a positive statement: So + auxiliary + subject. Agree with a negative one: Neither + auxiliary + subject.
I love pizza. — So do I. agreeing, positive
I can't swim. — Neither can I. agreeing, negative
Get the word order right
The order is So + auxiliary + subject.
Don't double the negative
'Neither' is already negative — don't add 'not'.
Match the auxiliary
Use the same helping verb as the first speaker: am with am, have with have, can with can.
Match the auxiliary: 'am' pairs with 'am', not 'do'.
Once this is automatic, conversations flow — you can react instantly instead of pausing to build a full sentence.
Practice this out loud. Speakwell drills these responses until they're reflexes — join the waitlist.