Soandnotwithexpect,hope,think, etc.

We can usesoafter some verbs instead of repeating an object clause, especially in short answers.The verbs we do this with most are:appear, assume, be afraid(meaning ‘regret’),believe, expect, guess, hope, imagine, presume, reckon, seem, suppose, think:

Chris thinks the tickets are too expensive, and Madelinethinks sotoo.

(… and Madeline thinks the tickets are expensive.)

A:

Are you working on Saturday?

B:

I’mafraidso.I wish I wasn’t!(I’m afraid I’m working.)

A:

D’you think the weather’s going to be fine tomorrow?

B:

Ihope so.I want to do some work in the garden. (I hope the weather’s going to be fine.)

We can usenotafterbe afraid, guess, hopeandsupposeinstead of using a negative object clause:

A:

Can we speak to Mr Brindley, please?

B:

I’mafraidnot.He’s busy. (I’m afraid you cannot speak to Mr Brindley.)

A:

It looks as if Louis won’t be coming with us after all.

B:

Iguess not.It’s a pity.

She thinks she might lose her job in the New Year, but shehopes not.

Withbelieve, expectandthink, we normally use auxiliarydo+ not+ main verb +so:

A:

Did Frances come here this morning?

B:

Idon’t believe so.Ask Hannah.

They asked Wilma if she thought her mother would refuse the invitation. She said shedidn’t think so.

We can findbelieve not, expect notandthink notin classic literature and in very formal situations, but it is not common in everyday modern English:

[from the novelDombey and Son(1848) by Charles Dickens]

‘He is in England, I hope, aunt?’ said the child.

‘I believe so. Yes; I know he is, indeed.’

‘Has he ever been here?’

‘Ibelieve not. No.’

Are we prepared to change our entire lives for the sake of one person? Ithink not.