Page 114 - English Grammar in Use

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

A In these sentences there is an auxiliary verb and a main verb:
auxiliary main
I have lost my keys.
She can’t come to the party.
The hotel was built ten years ago.
Why do you want to go home?

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)
Gary wasn’t working, but Laura was. (= Laura was working)
Jessica could lend me the money, but she won’t. (= she won’t lend me the money)
We 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)

B We use have you? / isn’t she? / are they? etc. to show that we are interested in what somebody has said,
or to show surprise:
‘I’ve just seen Steven.’ ‘Oh, have you? How is he?’
‘Lisa isn’t very well today.’ ‘Isn’t she? What’s wrong with her?’
‘It rained every day during our holiday.’ ‘Did it? What a shame!’
‘James and Tanya are getting married.’ ‘Are they? Really?’

C We use auxiliary verbs with so and neither:
‘I’m tired.’ ‘So am I.’ (= I’m tired too)
‘I never read newspapers.’ ‘Neither do I.’ (= I never read newspapers either)
Sarah can’t drive and neither can Mark.
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.’

D I think so / I suppose so etc.
You can say I think so / I suppose so etc. when we don’t want to repeat something:
‘Are those people Korean?’ ‘I think so.’ (= I think they are Korean)
‘Is Kate working tomorrow?’ ‘I suppose so.’ (= I suppose she is working tomorrow)
‘Will you be at home this evening?’ ‘I expect so.’ (= I expect I’ll be at home …)
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 don’t think so / I don’t expect so
I hope so / I’m afraid so → I hope not / I’m afraid not
I guess so / I suppose so → I guess not / 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)

102 American English ➜ Appendix 7