Guide to English grammar

NOTE
Compare the different meanings with say.
Is the illness serious? -I don't know. The doctor didn't say so./No, it isn't. The doctor said not.

4 With a few verbs, so can come at the beginning of the sentence.
Mark and Susan are good friends. -So it seems./So it appears.
They're giving away free tickets. Or so they say, anyway.

5 So and not can replace a clause after if.

Do you want your money to work for you? If so, you'll be interested in our Super Savers account.
Have you got transport? If not, I can give you a lift.
We can also use not after the adverbs certainly, of course, probably, perhaps, maybe and possibly.
Did you open my letter? -Certainly not.

4 So in short answers
1 short answer with so can express agreement. The pattern is “so + pronoun + auxiliary or be”.
You've made a mistake here. -Oh, so I have. Thank you.

A practical guide to English grammar 42

This pattern has a different meaning to a yes/no short answer.
This glass is cracked. -So it is. I hadn't noticed.
-Yes, it is. I meant to throw it away.
So it is means here that the speaker notices the crack for the first time.

5 So, that way and the same

1 So can replace an adjective after become and remain.
The situation is not yet serious, but it may become so. (= become serious)
So is rather formal here. In informal English we use get/stay that way.
The situation isn't serious yet, but it might get that way.
We can use so with more or less.
It's generally pretty busy here -More so in summer, of course.

2 The same can replace a phrase or clause already mentioned.

Happy New Year! -Thank you. (The) same to you.
Monday was beautiful, and Tuesday was the same.
The others think we should give up the idea, and I think the same.
Do the same can refer to an action already mentioned.
When the mayor lifted his glass to drink, everyone else did the same. (= everyone else lifted their glasses, too)

NOTE
We can use the same way after feel.

The others think we should give up the idea, and I feel the same (way).
6 Overview: uses of so

• 43(1) • 43(2) • 43(3) • 43(4) • 43(5a) • 212 • 247 • 252

Use expressing addition after do replacing a clause expressing agreement replacing an adjective expressing degree expressing reason expressing purpose

Example I'm hungry. -So am I. If you wish to look round, you may do so. Have we got time? -I think so. The coach has arrived. -So it has. Things have been difficult, but they should become less so. The view was so nice. He does talk so. I was tired, so I went to bed. I got up early so (that) I wouldn't be late.

Meaning too, also (do so = look round) (think so = think we've got time) I see/remember that... (less so = less difficult) very a lot therefore in order that

44 Some other ways of avoiding repetition

1 If the meaning is clear from the context, we can leave out a noun after a number or other quantifier, a demonstrative, or a superlative adjective.
It's got one pocket. -No, it's got two, look.
I've got some chocolate here. Would you like some?
How do you like the photos? -I think this is the nicest.
We cannot leave out the whole noun phrase.
NOT I'vegot some chocolate here. Wouldyou like?

2 In some contexts we can use one/ones. • 188

I wanted a big packet, not a small one.