C2 Mastery Advanced ellipsis and causatives
Advanced ellipsis & substitution
Lesson goal. After this lesson you can use advanced ellipsis & substitution structures (do so, the same as, so/neither + auxiliary + S) to avoid repetition in formal style.
When to use it
- Substituting for an action/verb phrase just mentioned: He promised to call, but he never did so.
- Comparing two identical things/ways: His approach was the same as his predecessor's.
- Agreeing in the affirmative: He works hard, and so does his sister.
- Agreeing in the negative: I don't enjoy horror films, and neither does my brother.
Form
| Structure | Function |
|---|---|
| do so | replaces an action/verb just mentioned |
| the same as | exactly the same comparison |
| so + auxiliary + S | so do I (affirmative) |
| neither/nor + auxiliary + S | nor do I (negative) |
Step by step
- do so substitutes for a whole action/verb phrase just mentioned — more formal than 'do it/do that'.
- the same as: always with 'the', use 'as' (never 'like').
- so + auxiliary + S: invert the auxiliary before the subject; the auxiliary agrees with the new subject (tense/number).
- neither/nor + auxiliary + S: the auxiliary must be in the affirmative form (since neither/nor already carries the negative meaning).
do so vs. so/neither + auxiliary
| Structure | Substitutes for |
|---|---|
| do so | a specific action just mentioned (not for nouns) |
| so + auxiliary + S | the whole previous clause, affirmative, different subject |
| neither/nor + auxiliary + S | the whole previous clause, negative, different subject |
Examples
He was asked to leave the room, and he did so immediately.
My opinion is the same as yours.
My sister loves classical music, and so do I.
I haven't finished the report, and neither has my colleague.
Common mistakes
I can't speak German, and neither can't my colleague. → I can't speak German, and neither can my colleague.
After neither, the auxiliary must be affirmative (can), since neither already carries the negative meaning.
My opinion is the same like yours. → My opinion is the same as yours.
It's 'the same as', not 'the same like' — 'like' is not used in this fixed comparison structure.
She refused to sign the contract, and her partner refused to sign it too. → She refused to sign the contract, and her partner did so too.
The repeated verb phrase 'refused to sign it' should be replaced with 'did so' for a more concise, formal sentence.
Memory tip
do so only substitutes for an action (verb), while the same (as) substitutes for a thing/way (noun) — don't confuse the two.
Summary
- do so = substitutes for the action just mentioned, formal.
- the same as = identical (always with 'the', use 'as').
- so + auxiliary + S = also does; neither/nor + auxiliary (affirmative) + S = also doesn't.
Practise this lesson
Do exercises with an explanation for every question, take mini tests and track your progress on GrammUp.