UNIT 50. Auxiliary verbs (have/do/can etc.) I think so/I hope so etc

A. There are two verbs in each of these sentences:

I have lost my keys.

She can't come to the party.

The hotel was built ten years ago.

Where do you live?

In these examples have/can't/was/do are auxiliary (= helping) verbs.

You can use an auxiliary verb (without the rest of the sentence) when you don't want to repeat something:

* 'Have you locked the door?' 'Yes, I have.' (= I have locked the door)

* George wasn't working but Janet was. (= Janet was working)

* She could lend me the money but she won't. (= she won't lend me the money)

* 'Are you angry with me?' 'Of course I'm not.' (= I'm not angry)

Use do/does/did for the present and past simple:

* 'Do you like onions?' 'Yes, I do. (= I like onions)

* 'Does Mark smoke?' 'He did but he doesn't any more.'

B. We use have you?/isn't she?/do they? etc. to show polite interest in what somebody has said:

* 'I've just met Simon.' 'Oh, have you? How is he?'

* 'Liz isn't very well today.' 'Oh,98 isn't she? What's wrong with her?'

* 'It rained every day during our holiday.' 'Did it? What a pity!'

Sometimes we use these 'short questions' to show surprise:

* 'Jim and Nora are getting married.' 'Are they? Really?'

C. We use auxiliary verbs with so and neither:

* 'I'm feeling tired.' 'So am L' (= I'm feeling tired too)

* 'I never read newspapers.' 'Neither do L' (= I never read newspapers either)

* Sue hasn't got a car and neither has Martin.

Note the word order after so and neither (verb before subject):

* I passed the exam and so did Tom. (not 'so Tom did')

You can use nor instead of neither:

* 'I can't remember his name.' 'Nor can L' or 'Neither can I'

You can also use '...not... either':

* 'I haven't got any money.' 'Neither have I' or 'Nor have I' or 'I haven't either.'

D. I think so/I hope so etc.

After some verbs you can use so when you don't want to repeat something:

* 'Are those people English?' J think so.' (= I think they are English)

* 'Will you be at home tomorrow morning?' 'I expect so.' (= I expect I'll be at home..)

* 'Do you think Kate has been invited to the party?' 'I suppose so.'

You can also 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 guess so -> I hope not/I'm afraid not/I guess not

I suppose so/I don't suppose so or I suppose not

* 'Is that woman American?' 'I think so./I don't think so.'

* 'Do you think it's going to rain?' J hope so./I hope not.' (not 'I don't hope so')

EXERCISES