G. Short forms as answers
G1. We often use short forms to answer questions. Usually we repeat the first word of the verb phrase. (e.g. A: Can you come round tomorrow? B: Yes, I can/ No I can’t.)
G2. We often use verbs like: think, suppose, expect and hope, to answer questions. when the answer is ‘yes’, we add ‘so’ 'I expect so, I hope so, etc.'. if the answer is ‘no’ we say 'I don’t think so, I don’t suppose so, etc', but with hope we say I hope not. (e.g. A: Can you come tomorrow? B: I hope so.)
G3. We often use adverbials of probability like: perhaps, probably, possibly, maybe, definitely and certainly as short answers. (e.g. A: Do you think it’s going to rain? B: Yes, possibly.)
G4. We can use short forms to agree or disagree with what someone says. Usually we use the first word in the verb phrase. (e.g. A: It’s a lovely day. B: Yes, it is.)
G5. Sometimes we change the modal (e.g. A: The children will be coming to see us next week. B: Yes, they might.)
G6. We use do/does//don’t/doesn’t to agree or disagree with a statement in the present simple form. (e.g. A: Your grandmother looks very well. B: Yes, she does.) and we use did/didn’t for past simple. (e.g. A: Everybody really enjoyed the trip. B: Yes, they did.)
G7. We sometimes put a short tag at the end of a comment. We use a Yes/No question form for the tag. If the comment is affirmative we normally use a negative tag (e.g. A: It’s a lovely day. B: Yes, it is, isn’t it.) If the comment is negative we normally use an affirmative tag. (e.g. A: They didn’t seem to enjoy the trip very much. B: They didn’t, did they.)
G8. Sometimes we put a tag on the end of a statement. (e.g. It’s a lovely day, isn’t it?)
G9 We use affirmative tags with so and neither or nor to add to what someone has said. We use so to add to an affirmative. (e.g. A: John is working in Barcelona. B: And so is Maria (= Maria is working in Barcelona, too.))
G10. We use neither or nor to add to a negative (e.g. A: I don’t smoke any more. B: Neither do I. (= I also don’t smoke))
Idiom 365
Backseat Driver: someone who tries to establish and maintain control over every situation
Example: It is expected that a former president will be a backseat driver