instead of that-clauses.
We often use so after believe, hope, expect, imagine, suppose, guess, reckon, think, be afraid, instead of repeating words in a that-clause.
Is Alex here?so and not with hope, believe etc I think so. (not .. .1 think that Alex is herer)
Do you think we’ll be in time?so and not with hope, believe etcI hope so. (NOT Thope:)
Did you lose?so and not with hope, believe etc I’m afraid so.
We do not use so before a that-clause.
I hope that we’ll have good weather, (NOT I hope so, that we’ll have good weather.)
Note the special use of I thought so to mean ‘my suspicions were correct’.
Empty your pockets. Ah, I thought so! You’ve been stealing biscuits again. So is not used after know (see know).
You’re late. so and not with hope, believe etcI know, OR I know that, (NOT I-know so.)
negative structures
We can make these expressions negative in two ways, affirmative verb + not Did you win? so and not with hope, believe etc I’m afraid not.
We won’t be in time for the train. so and not with hope, believe etcNo, I suppose not.
negative verb + so
You won’t be here tomorrow?so and not with hope, believe etcI don’t suppose so.
Will it rain?so and not with hope, believe etcI don’t expect so.
Hope
and be afraid are always used in the first structure.
I hope not. (NOT I don’t hope so.)
Think
is more common in the second structure.
I don’t think so. (More common than I think not.)
so
at the beginning of a clause
We can use so at the beginning of a clause with say, hear, understand, tell, believe and a number of other verbs. This structure is used to say how the speaker learnt something.
It’s going to be a cold winter, or so the newspaper says.
Mary’s getting married. so and not with hope, believe etc Yes, so I heard.
The Professor’s ill. so and not with hope, believe etc So I understand.
For so after tell and say, see so with say and tell.
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