Auxiliary Verbs

Auxiliary Verbs in Short Answers

Every English sentence has a main verb. Many also have an auxiliary verb (a helping verb) before it: have, can, was, do, will, might, etc.

• I have lost my keys.
• She can’t come to the party.
• The hotel was built ten years ago.

When you don’t want to repeat the full verb phrase, you can use the auxiliary verb alone:

• “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)

For the present simple and past simple, use do / does / did:

• “Do you like onions?” “Yes, I do.” (= I like onions)
• “Does Simon live in London?” “He did, but he doesn’t any more.”

Denying What Someone Says

You can use an auxiliary verb to say that something is not true:

• “You’re sitting in my place.” “No, I’m not.”
• “You didn’t lock the door before you left.” “Yes, I did.” (= I locked the door)

This pattern is useful in workplace conversations when you need to correct someone quickly and clearly.

Showing Interest or Surprise

Use a short question with an auxiliary verb to react to what someone says. This shows you are interested or surprised:

Statement	Reaction
“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?”

The auxiliary matches the tense and verb in the first speaker’s sentence. If the statement uses the present perfect (I’ve seen), the reaction uses have (have you?). If the statement uses the past simple (it rained), the reaction uses did (did it?).

So and Neither

Use so + auxiliary + subject to say “me too” (for positive statements). Use neither + auxiliary + subject to say “me neither” (for negative statements).

Statement	Agreement
“I’m tired.”	”So am I.”
“I never read newspapers.”	”Neither do I.”
Sarah can’t drive…	…and neither can Mark.
I passed the exam…	…and so did Paul.

Notice the word order: the verb comes before the subject after so and neither.

• 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.” / ”Nor do I.” / “I don’t either.”

I think so / I hope so

When someone asks a yes/no question and you don’t want to repeat the whole answer, you can use so after certain verbs:

• “Are those people Korean?” “I think so.” (= I think they are Korean)
• “Is Kate working tomorrow?” “I suppose so.”
• “Will you be at home this evening?” “I expect so.”

The same pattern works with I hope so, I guess so, and I’m afraid so.

Negative Forms

The negative depends on the verb. Some use don’t … so. Others use … not.

Positive	Negative
I think so	I don’t think so
I expect so	I don’t expect so
I hope so	I hope not
I’m afraid so	I’m afraid not
I guess so	I guess not
I suppose so	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)

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