Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[bill2006]

I came across a question like this in an exam :

---Nothing serious .
-----A. I hope so ./B . I hope not
Which answer do you think is better ?
Thanks in advance.

[MrPedantic]

Hello Bill

I would say that both replies are possible. Thus:

1. I hope it's nothing serious.

If you reply "I hope so too!", the sense is "I hope too that it is nothing serious". "So" therefore stands for the sentiment "it's nothing serious".

On the other hand, if you reply "I hope not too!", the sense is "I hope too that it is not something serious". "Not" stands for the sentiment "not something serious".

In everyday exchanges, speakers sometimes seem aware that to reply "I hope so too!" to a negative statement sounds somehow inappropriate; so they may expand a little:

2. I hope so too! � that it's nothing serious, I mean!

(But if the question arises in e.g. an examination context, where you have to choose one answer, it's probably safest to choose "I hope so too!".)

MrP