echo utterance: 'D I!'

[Eagle]

Hello.
I have a doubt about the use of "Do I!".

In this conversation, "B" is a big Michael Jackson's fan:

-------
A. Do you like Michael Jackson's music?

B. Do I!

My questions are:

~Why does "B" use "Do I!"

~Is it possible to say Am I! or Are they!, when working
with the verb TO BE?

Thanks

[Mister Micawber]

Yes, and it is an interesting form, isn't it? It is called an echo utterance, and they are used for various purposes. This one stresses the truth of the original statement:

A: Do you like Michael Jackson's music?
B: Do I! [= I do indeed like his music!]

C: Are you hungry?
D: Am I!? I can eat a horse!

In this second example, I have added a question mark, and these echo utterances often serve partially to question the original asker's credibility (Of course, I'm hungry!-- need you ask?)

Echo utterances also serve as confirmation requests:

E: My parents are coming to dinner tomorrow.
F: Are they? I'd better go shopping tonight, then.

Echo utterances are somewhat like tag questions, but initiated by the next speaker. The verb be is not necessary-- echo utterances of all kinds occur in daily conversation:

G: I bought you a present--
H: A present! Oh boy!

I: My brother broke his collarbone yesterday.
J: Broke his what?
.
_________________
Canadian-American native speaker
who teaches English for a living at Mister Micawber's
ESL cafe: Interview with Mister Micawber