I hope so. I’m afraid not.

  • B2 · Upper-intermediate
  • Grammar lesson
  • 60 min
  • so and not for a whole answer

so and not in place of a whole answer: Will there be snow? I think so. Will it be crowded? I hope not. Do we need chains? I'm afraid so. The student hears a voice message about a ski weekend, chooses the reply that fits, builds replies with the right verb, and answers a hotel guest's questions on the phone.

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I hope so.I'm afraid not.I don't think so.

What's in the lesson

  1. 1Warm-up
  2. 2In this lesson
  3. 3Listen: Sadie's answersListening comprehension
  4. 4What does it mean?Grammar exercise
  5. 5Find the short answersGrammar exercise
  6. 6so and not for a whole answerGrammar rule
  7. 7Choose the replyGrammar exercise
  8. 8Short repliesGrammar exercise
  9. 9Build the repliesGrammar exercise
  10. 10Say it naturallySpeaking practice
  11. 11At the front deskSpeaking practice
  12. 12About youGrammar exercise
  13. 13Wrap-up

Homework

  1. 1Homework: which reply is right?Grammar exercise
  2. 2Homework: the national parkGrammar exercise
  3. 3Homework: questions and repliesGrammar exercise
  4. 4Homework: answers for a visitorDiscussion

Two slides from the lesson

Warm-up

A few questions about you before we start.

  1. Do you think it will rain where you live this week?
  2. Have you ever been skiing or snowboarding? What was it like?
  3. How do people say no politely in your language? Is it easy for you in English?

Grammar rule

so and not for a whole answer

so = yes, not = no

After some verbs, so stands for a whole positive answer, and not for a whole negative one, so we don't repeat the sentence: "Will the flight be late?" "I hope not." (= I hope it won't be late.) "I'm afraid so." (= Sorry, but it will be late.)

VerbYesNo
think, believe, supposeI think so. I believe so.I don't think so. I don't believe so.
hopeI hope so.I hope not.
be afraid (= sorry, but…)I'm afraid so.I'm afraid not.
guess (informal, American)I guess so.I guess not.
ifIf so, … (= if yes)If not, … (= if no)

What do they tell the listener?

  • I think so, I believe so, I guess so: probably yes. (I believe so sounds a little more careful.)
  • I hope so, I hope not: the answer you want, but you don't know yet.
  • I'm afraid so, I'm afraid not: you know the answer, and it is bad news. afraid doesn't mean scared here: it makes the news polite.

Watch out

  • Not it, yes or no: I think it. I hope yes. I'm afraid no.
  • hope and be afraid keep not at the end: I don't hope so → I hope not. I'm not afraid so → I'm afraid not.
  • think and believe put don't first in everyday English: I don't think so. (I think not sounds very formal.) With suppose, both are fine: I don't suppose so / I suppose not.
  • know and be sure don't take so: "Does the store open at nine?" "Yes, I'm sure." / "I don't know."
  • Don't mix this up with So do I (= me too): "I love the mountains." "So do I."

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