So do I / Me too / Neither do I / I don’t either (Speaking Activity)

Game for Practicing So/Too/Neither/Either

Skill focus: Speaking

Grammar: Additions and Responses (So, Too, Neither, Not either), Yes/No Questions

ESL Level: Intermediate

Overview: Students pose a question to a partner to elicit a response that will allow them to use a particular phrase such as "So do I!"

Number of students: 3 or more

Materials needed: one set of response cards for each group of 3/4 students.

Time Required: 25 minutes


This is a good activity for reviewing Yes/No questions and additions and responses. I have taught this lesson once. It requires very clear explanation because it can be difficult for students to grasp. This activity should be done after you have taught the expressions for additions such as "So can I / Neither can I."

Speaking Activity Preparation

Choose your target language. I used the 8 expressions below.

  • So am I. (I am too.)
  • Neither am I. (I'm not either.)
  • So do I. (I do too)
  • Neither did I. (I didn't either.)
  • So can I. (I can too.)
  • Neither can I. (I can't either.)
  • So have I. (I have too.)
  • Neither have I. (I haven't either.)

Cut each sentence from the set into a strip (let's call them cards). You'll be giving a set to each group of four students. I had 16 students so I made four sets. You can download my set here (shown below)

game for so too either neither (ESL)

Speaking Activity Execution

1. Review the target language you have chosen.

2. Show the students that you have a card in your hand that says "So do I." Tell them that you want to use this expression in a conversation. What question can you ask that will allow you to say "So do I?"

Write on board:

A: _______________________? (Question)
B: Yes, I do. 
A: So do I! 

To help students make the Yes/No question, underline the auxiliary/modal/BE verb in the addition (So do I.) Tell them that you will us this helping verb to start the Yes/No question. Draw an arrow from the do to first line of the conversation, and put "Do..." at the beginning of the question.

3. Get student suggestions for questions. For example, "Do you have a car?" Ask this question to a student in the class who you know drives to school, e.g. "Jose, do you have a car?" When he answers, "Yes, I do," then you can respond with "So do I!" (assuming you have a car). Then you can give Jose the card. Explain that the aim of the game is to get rid of your cards.

Now, change the question to something that would be false for you. For example, "Sue, do you have long hair? (Yes, I do.). Explain to the students that you do not have long hair, so you cannot respond affirmatively "So do I." Therefore, it's a bad question and you cannot use your card. You can just say "Oh, I don't."

At this point, some students will begin to grasp the game. Repeat the above explanation two or three more times with different expressions. Try a negative card such as "Neither can I." For example:

A: _______________________? (Question)
B: No, I can't. 
A: Neither can I! 

Again, underline the modal verb can, move it to the first line and form a question ("Can you fly?") that will allow you to use your addition "Neither can I!"

4. Once students have grasped the game, distribute a set of cut cards to each group of 4 students. Tell each student to take two cards. They may begin by asking each other questions. Restate that the aim of the game is to use each card. When they do so, they give the card to the other student (or another version could be that they can just put it face down on the table (that way the game actually ends)).

My stronger students enjoyed this activity. It took a while for some of them to grasp it though. Be sure to take your time in explaining. The strengths of this game are that it shows students the role of the auxiliary/modal/BE verb in forming questions, answering questions, and using additions, which is good English practice. Too many students only know how to answer questions and not ask them themselves.

Possible Pitfall

Some of my students were using the addition, e.g. "So am I", to answer the question. For example, "A: Are you tired?-> B: So am I!" Make sure they understand that the answer to the first Yes/No question will be Yes/No. After the question is answered, the person who asked the question can use his addition "So am I" if it applies.

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If you are confident you can explain it clearly, give the activity a try. Please leave a comment and let me know how it went.

- Matthew Barton / Creator of www.englishcurrent.com

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5 comments on “So do I / Me too / Neither do I / I don’t either (Speaking Activity)

  1. hellen haga (Posted on 7-2-2017 at 09:22) Reply

    Hi there Matthew. I used your speaking activity, but I added it to the handout and asked students to cross the ones they used. I did exactly as you suggested and it turned out perfectly well. With some students I could even ask to tell the other possible answer: So do I (me too)/Neither do I (me neither or I don’t either). Thank you for your great exercise.

  2. Claudia Rodriguez (Posted on 7-21-2017 at 15:02) Reply

    Excellent activity! It will help me a lot with my group. Thank you so much for your kindness!

  3. Bells (Posted on 5-19-2020 at 11:23) Reply

    How do you explain to use of the TO BE verb in this case when DO is not used in the first sentence?
    I want to go home now. > So DO I

    A student asked me to explain why the answer is with the TO BE verb though it’s not clear in the initial sentence.

    Any thoughts?

  4. Maged Alhosamy (Posted on 9-4-2021 at 01:14) Reply

    I have just finished reading your post,dear.l am going to apply what u mentioned in today’class and update u with the outcomes!

  5. Anonymous (Posted on 7-27-2023 at 20:41) Reply

    I love the explaination or the procedure of the game you suggested. I am about to apply today.
    Thank you!

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