In the sentence "She does not agree, and ______ does Anita", which word correctly completes the negative agreement?

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: neither

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This fill in the blank question tests your understanding of how to express agreement with a negative statement in English. The sentence states that one person does not agree and then adds that Anita also does not agree. The correct word must match this negative agreement pattern.



Given Data / Assumptions:

  • The sentence is: She does not agree, and ______ does Anita.
  • The meaning clearly is that Anita also does not agree.
  • Options: also, even, neither, so.
  • We need a structure that fits English patterns for negative agreement, like neither do I.


Concept / Approach:
In English, to agree with a negative statement, we typically use neither or nor followed by an auxiliary verb and the subject: She does not agree, and neither does Anita. The words also and even do not create correct negative agreement structures in this position. So is used for positive agreement, as in She agrees, and so does Anita. Therefore, neither is the correct choice to complete the sentence.



Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Interpret the meaning: both the original subject and Anita do not agree.Step 2: Recall the standard negative agreement pattern: neither + auxiliary verb + subject.Step 3: Apply this to the sentence: She does not agree, and neither does Anita is perfectly grammatical.Step 4: Test also and even; She does not agree, and also does Anita is ungrammatical. Even does Anita is also incorrect in this structure.Step 5: Recognise that so is used for positive sentences, not negative ones, so it cannot be correct here. Therefore, neither is the only suitable option.


Verification / Alternative check:
Compare positive and negative examples. Positive: She agrees, and so does Anita. Negative: She does not agree, and neither does Anita. Notice how the auxiliary does moves before the subject Anita in both cases, and the choice of so or neither depends on whether the first clause is positive or negative. Rewriting the sentence with neither gives us a well known pattern taught in grammar books, confirming it as the correct answer.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Also is usually placed after the auxiliary or at the end of clauses and not used to introduce the subject directly in cases of negative agreement. Even indicates emphasis and usually appears before the word it modifies, not before does Anita in this way. So used in agreement means too or as well, but it is reserved for positive statements. Using so here would imply that Anita does agree, contradicting the negative sense of does not agree.


Common Pitfalls:
Candidates sometimes overuse also or so whenever they see a second clause that repeats information. However, English has specific fixed patterns for agreeing with positive or negative statements. Remembering pairs like So do I for positive and Neither do I for negative will help you avoid such mistakes, especially under exam pressure.


Final Answer:
The correct word to express that Anita also does not agree is neither, so option C is correct.

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