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Intermediate

Pro-Verbs & Verb Substitution

How languages substitute for a repeated or understood verb phrase in Spanish, English and Chinese.

对比语言

Pro-verbs are substitutes for verbs or verb phrases, avoiding repetition. English uses do/do so/did. Spanish uses hacerlo. Chinese uses 这zhè样yàng/那nà样yàng or simply omits the verb.

Overview

Pro-verbs substitute for a previously mentioned verb or verb phrase, avoiding repetition.

Spanish: Uses también for agreement, lo as a pronoun for actions (hacerlo), and explicit repetition for short answers. No dedicated pro-verb like English do.
English: Uses do as a pro-verb with inverted word order (so does he, neither do I). Do so and do it substitute for action verb phrases.
Chinese: Often repeats the verb or omits it entirely when context is clear. 也yě marks agreement. 这zhè样yàng/那nà样yàng can substitute for actions.

Spanish

También / tampoco (agreement)

A mí me gusta y a él también. (I like it and he does too.)
Yo no fui y él tampoco. (I didn’t go and neither did he.)

Note: Spanish repeats the experiencer (a mí / a él) rather than using a pro-verb.

Hacerlo / decirlo / saberlo

The pronoun lo can stand for an action:

¿Vas a hacerlo? (Are you going to do it?)
No puedo evitarlo. (I can’t avoid it.)
Dime lo que pasó. Lo sé. (Tell me what happened. I know [it].)

Explicit repetition

Spanish often simply repeats the verb:

¿Te gusta? Sí, me gusta. (Do you like it? Yes, I like it.)
¿Vas a venir? Sí, voy. (Are you coming? Yes, I’m coming.)
¿Puedes ayudarme? Sí, puedo. (Can you help me? Yes, I can.)

Ellipsis

Spanish allows some ellipsis but less freely than English:

Quiero ir y creo que tú también quieres. (I want to go and I think you want to too.)
No lo leí, pero debería haberlo leído. (I didn’t read it, but I should have read it.)

Yo que tú / Yo en tu lugar

Yo que tú, lo haría. (If I were you, I would do it.)
Yo en tu lugar, no lo haría. (In your place, I wouldn’t do it.)

English

So + auxiliary (agreement)

I like it, and so does he.
She can swim, and so can I.
They have arrived, and so have we.
He went there, and so did I.

Neither / nor + auxiliary (negative agreement)

I don’t like it, and neither does he.
She can’t swim, and nor can I.
They haven’t arrived, and neither have we.
He didn’t go, and nor did I.

Inversion: The auxiliary precedes the subject in these constructions.

Do / does / did (short answers)

Do you like it? Yes, I do. / No, I don’t.
Can you help me? Yes, I can. / No, I can’t.
Did you go? Yes, I did. / No, I didn’t.

Do so / do it / do that

Substitutes for action verb phrases:

He asked me to leave, so I did so.
She said she would call, and she did it.
I told him to stop, but he didn’t do so.

Note: Do so is more formal. Do it/that is more common in speech.

So I did / So I am (confirmation)

Echoing a previous statement:

A: You forgot your keys.
B: So I did! (You’re right, I did.)
A: You’re being silly.
B: So I am! (I admit it.)

Comparative ellipsis

He speaks better than I do.
She runs faster than he does.
I earn more than they do.

VP ellipsis

I haven’t read it, but I should. (= should have read it)
He doesn’t like it, but I think he might.
She said she would come, and she will.

Stripping

John likes tea, and Mary coffee. (= Mary likes coffee)
I went to Paris, and Bill to Rome. (= Bill went to Rome)

Chinese

Verb repetition

Chinese often repeats the verb in short answers:

A: 你nǐ喜xǐ欢huan吗ma？(Do you like it?)
B: 喜xǐ欢huan。(Like [it]. — yes)
B: 不bù喜xǐ欢huan。(Not like [it]. — no)
A: 你nǐ能néng来lái吗ma？(Can you come?)
B: 能néng。(Can. — yes)
B: 不bù能néng。(Cannot. — no)

也yě for agreement

我wǒ去qù了le，他tā也yě去qù了le。(I went, and he went too.)
我wǒ喜xǐ欢huan，他tā也yě喜xǐ欢huan。(I like it, and he likes it too.)

也yě + 是shì (pro-verb substitute)

我wǒ喜xǐ欢huan，他tā也yě是shì。(I like it, and so does he. — 是shì substitutes for 喜xǐ欢huān)
我wǒ是shì老lǎo师shī，他tā也yě是shì。(I’m a teacher, and so is he.)

Note: 也yě + 是shì only works with stative verbs. For action verbs, repeat the verb.

这zhè样yàng / 那nà样yàng (this way / that way)

Can substitute for manner:

我wǒ这zhè样yàng做zuò，他tā也yě这zhè样yàng。(I do it this way, and he does too.)
别bié那nà样yàng。(Don’t do it that way.)

Zero anaphora (omission)

Chinese often simply omits the repeated verb:

我wǒ想xiǎng去qù，他tā也yě想xiǎng。(I want to go, and he wants to [go] too.)
我wǒ没méi读dú，但dàn应yīng该gāi读dú。(I didn’t read it, but should read [it].)

Comparative with 比bǐ

他tā说shuō得de比bǐ我wǒ好hǎo。(He speaks better than me. — no pro-verb needed)
我wǒ跑pǎo得de比bǐ他tā快kuài。(I run faster than him.)

Comparison at a glance

Construction	Spanish	English	Chinese
Positive agreement	A mí también / Yo también	So + auxiliary	也yě + verb / 也yě是shì
Negative agreement	Yo tampoco	Neither/Nor + auxiliary	也yě不bù + verb
Short answer	Sí, me gusta / Sí, puedo	Yes, I do / Yes, I can	喜xǐ欢huān / 能néng
Pro-verb for action	hacerlo	do so / do it	这zhè样yàng / repeat verb
Comparative pro-verb	(repetition)	better than I do	比bǐ + person + adjective
VP ellipsis	limited	very productive	very productive (zero anaphora)

Examples in context

I like it and so does he

ES: A mí me gusta y a él también.
EN: I like it and so does he.
ZH: 我wǒ喜xǐ欢huan，他tā也yě喜xǐ欢huan。

I didn’t go and neither did he

ES: Yo no fui y él tampoco.
EN: I didn’t go and neither did he.
ZH: 我wǒ没méi去qù，他tā也yě没méi去qù。

Can you help me? Yes, I can

ES: ¿Puedes ayudarme? Sí, puedo.
EN: Can you help me? Yes, I can.
ZH: 你nǐ能néng帮bāng我wǒ吗ma？能néng。

Common mistakes

Spanish speakers learning English: I like it and he too → I like it and so does he
English speakers learning Spanish: So do I → Yo también (no pro-verb construction)
English speakers learning Chinese: 你nǐ喜xǐ欢huān吗ma？是shì → 你nǐ喜xǐ欢huān吗ma？喜xǐ欢huān (repeat the verb, not 是shì)
Chinese speakers learning English: I like, he too → I like it, so does he

Ellipsis: How omission works in each language
Comparisons: How comparative constructions work
Word Order: How sentence structure supports substitution
Anaphora: How reference to prior material works

例句

I like it and so does he

A mí me gusta y a él también

I went and he did too

Yo fui y él también

Do you like it? Yes, I do.

¿Te gusta? Sí, me gusta.

I didn't read it, but I should have

No lo leí, pero debería haberlo hecho

I think so / I hope so

Creo que sí / Espero que sí

If you want to go, you should

Si quieres ir, deberías hacerlo

He speaks better than I do

Habla mejor que yo

So + auxiliary (agreement)

A mí también / Yo también / A él también

例句

I like it and so does he

I went and he did too

Do you like it? Yes, I do.

I didn't read it, but I should have

I think so / I hope so

If you want to go, you should

He speaks better than I do

So + auxiliary (agreement)

So + auxiliary: So do I / So is he

例句

I like it and so does he

我wǒ喜xǐ欢huan，他tā也yě喜xǐ欢huan / 我wǒ喜xǐ欢huan，他tā也yě是shì

I went and he did too

我wǒ去qù了le，他tā也yě去qù了le

Do you like it? Yes, I do.

你nǐ喜xǐ欢huan吗ma？喜xǐ欢huan。 / 喜xǐ欢huan。

I didn't read it, but I should have

我wǒ没méi读dú，但dàn是shì应yīng该gāi读dú

I think so / I hope so

我wǒ这zhè么me想xiǎng / 希xī望wàng如rú此cǐ

If you want to go, you should

如rú果guǒ你nǐ想xiǎng去qù，就jiù去qù吧ba

He speaks better than I do

他tā说shuō得de比bǐ我wǒ好hǎo

So + auxiliary (agreement)

也yě / 都dōu (with context)

快速对比

语法概念	西班牙语	英语	中文
I like it and so does he	A mí me gusta y a él también	I like it and so does he	我wǒ喜xǐ欢huan，他tā也yě喜xǐ欢huan / 我wǒ喜xǐ欢huan，他tā也yě是shì
I went and he did too	Yo fui y él también	I went and he did too	我wǒ去qù了le，他tā也yě去qù了le
Do you like it? Yes, I do.	¿Te gusta? Sí, me gusta.	Do you like it? Yes, I do.	你nǐ喜xǐ欢huan吗ma？喜xǐ欢huan。 / 喜xǐ欢huan。
I didn't read it, but I should have	No lo leí, pero debería haberlo hecho	I didn't read it, but I should have	我wǒ没méi读dú，但dàn是shì应yīng该gāi读dú
I think so / I hope so	Creo que sí / Espero que sí	I think so / I hope so	我wǒ这zhè么me想xiǎng / 希xī望wàng如rú此cǐ
If you want to go, you should	Si quieres ir, deberías hacerlo	If you want to go, you should	如rú果guǒ你nǐ想xiǎng去qù，就jiù去qù吧ba
He speaks better than I do	Habla mejor que yo	He speaks better than I do	他tā说shuō得de比bǐ我wǒ好hǎo
So + auxiliary (agreement)	A mí también / Yo también / A él también	So + auxiliary: So do I / So is he	也yě / 都dōu (with context)

并列对比

语法概念	西班牙语	英语	中文
I like it and so does he	A mí me gusta y a él también	I like it and so does he	我wǒ喜xǐ欢huan，他tā也yě喜xǐ欢huan / 我wǒ喜xǐ欢huan，他tā也yě是shì
I went and he did too	Yo fui y él también	I went and he did too	我wǒ去qù了le，他tā也yě去qù了le
Do you like it? Yes, I do.	¿Te gusta? Sí, me gusta.	Do you like it? Yes, I do.	你nǐ喜xǐ欢huan吗ma？喜xǐ欢huan。 / 喜xǐ欢huan。
I didn't read it, but I should have	No lo leí, pero debería haberlo hecho	I didn't read it, but I should have	我wǒ没méi读dú，但dàn是shì应yīng该gāi读dú
I think so / I hope so	Creo que sí / Espero que sí	I think so / I hope so	我wǒ这zhè么me想xiǎng / 希xī望wàng如rú此cǐ
If you want to go, you should	Si quieres ir, deberías hacerlo	If you want to go, you should	如rú果guǒ你nǐ想xiǎng去qù，就jiù去qù吧ba
He speaks better than I do	Habla mejor que yo	He speaks better than I do	他tā说shuō得de比bǐ我wǒ好hǎo
So + auxiliary (agreement)	A mí también / Yo también / A él también	So + auxiliary: So do I / So is he	也yě / 都dōu (with context)

语境例句

I like it and so does he

西班牙语

A mí me gusta y a él también

英语

I like it and so does he

中文

我wǒ喜xǐ欢huan，他tā也yě喜xǐ欢huan / 我wǒ喜xǐ欢huan，他tā也yě是shì

I went and he did too

西班牙语

Yo fui y él también

英语

I went and he did too

中文

我wǒ去qù了le，他tā也yě去qù了le

Do you like it? Yes, I do.

西班牙语

¿Te gusta? Sí, me gusta.

英语

Do you like it? Yes, I do.

中文

你nǐ喜xǐ欢huan吗ma？喜xǐ欢huan。 / 喜xǐ欢huan。

I didn't read it, but I should have

西班牙语

No lo leí, pero debería haberlo hecho

英语

I didn't read it, but I should have

中文

我wǒ没méi读dú，但dàn是shì应yīng该gāi读dú

I think so / I hope so

西班牙语

Creo que sí / Espero que sí

英语

I think so / I hope so

中文

我wǒ这zhè么me想xiǎng / 希xī望wàng如rú此cǐ

If you want to go, you should

西班牙语

Si quieres ir, deberías hacerlo

英语

If you want to go, you should

中文

如rú果guǒ你nǐ想xiǎng去qù，就jiù去qù吧ba

He speaks better than I do

西班牙语

Habla mejor que yo

英语

He speaks better than I do

中文

他tā说shuō得de比bǐ我wǒ好hǎo

So + auxiliary (agreement)

西班牙语

A mí también / Yo también / A él también

英语

So + auxiliary: So do I / So is he

中文

也yě / 都dōu (with context)

要点总结

Spanish: Uses también for agreement, lo as a pronoun for actions (hacerlo), and explicit repetition for short answers. No dedicated pro-verb like Eng...

English: Uses do as a pro-verb with inverted word order (so does he, neither do I). Do so and do it substitute for action verb phrases.

Chinese: Often repeats the verb or omits it entirely when context is clear. 也yě marks agreement. 这zhè样yàng/那nà样yàng can substitute for actions.

Key concepts compared: I like it and so does he, I went and he did too, Do you like it? Yes, I do..

先读这个

pronouns verb-tenses

最后更新: 2026年6月4日

Overview

Spanish

También / tampoco (agreement)

Hacerlo / decirlo / saberlo

Explicit repetition

Ellipsis

Yo que tú / Yo en tu lugar

English

So + auxiliary (agreement)

Neither / nor + auxiliary (negative agreement)

Do / does / did (short answers)

Do so / do it / do that

So I did / So I am (confirmation)

Comparative ellipsis

VP ellipsis

Stripping

Chinese

Verb repetition

也yě for agreement

也yě + 是shì (pro-verb substitute)

这zhè样yàng / 那nà样yàng (this way / that way)

Zero anaphora (omission)

Comparative with 比bǐ

Comparison at a glance

Examples in context

I like it and so does he

I didn’t go and neither did he

Can you help me? Yes, I can

Common mistakes

Related topics

例句

例句

例句

快速对比

并列对比

语境例句

要点总结