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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 91
journeyman
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journeyman
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 91 |
He thinks life is interesting, and so __ I.
Here should I use "do" or "am"?
Or either?
(When "do" is used, that means I think the same;
When "am" is used, that means he thinks both life and I are interesting.
)
Do inform me if you see any corrections needed in my written English. 
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,290
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,290 |
I would say: "He thinks life is interesting, and so do I." It means: "He thinks life is interesting, and I think life is interesting, too." The other sentence with am is not grammatical in standard US English. To get your second meaning, I would use the non-elliptical sentence you have in your explanation. It still sounds a bit funny yo me, and I would probably rewrite it to something else.
Ceci n'est pas un seing.
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 876
old hand
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old hand
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 876 |
I agree with zmjezhd. If you want to say "...he thinks both life and I are interesting", the least awkward would be "He thinks life is interesting, and that I am, too." It's not a phrase you're likely to encounter very often, though.
I would concur with zmjezhd, also, about the pen sentence. Whenever possible, write as simply as you can. "I bought a blue pen." Think of it this way: "Me compré un bolígrafo azul." or "Me compré un bolígrafo que es del color azul." Which sounds more natural? :0)
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 390
enthusiast
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enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 390 |
Think of it this way: "Me compré un bolígrafo azul." or "Me compré un bolígrafo que es del color azul." Which sounds more natural? :0) To a Chinese speaker like Callithump, why would either sound more natural? Would either one be understandable at all?
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 876
old hand
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old hand
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 876 |
OOOOPS!!! MY BAD!!! I had him mixed up with another... Sorry! (And thanks for the heads up, Latishya!) :0)
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,773
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,773 |
For some reason what comes to mind is I Am America And So Can You! by Stephen Colbert
dalehileman
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