LESSON 20 – OTHER COHESIVE DEVICES

Objectives: I want my students to identify cohesive devices in a text

Use cohesive devices to give coherence to his/her

writings.

Here we are again, people. In our class about reference, we read about cohesion and the
different levels of analysis. We said that reference was a technique to grant grammatical
cohesion and that there were two other techniques we could use: substitution and ellipsis. In
this lesson, we are going to work with these two.

So to begin with, and get a general idea, watch this video where you will find a definition of
both techniques.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hv6JEFIQMl0

SUBSTITUTION

We use substitution so as not to repeat words that are clear from the context, that is words
than can be “recovered” from the context. We can substitute for nouns (nominal substitution),
verbs (verbal substitution) and clauses (clausal substitution) . The difference between
reference and substitution is that reference words do not replace the noun necessarily but
mentions it (makes a reference to it) by using a pronoun, or a possessive, etc. In substitution,
we replace a noun with a noun, a verb with a verb.

NOMINAL SUBSTITUTION

We use ONE or ONES to replace singular (ONE) or plural (ONES) COUNTABLE NOUNS. We
CAN´T substitute for an uncountable noun.

e.g. Would you like a drink? No, thanks. I have already got one (a drink)

I think his best poems are the early ones (poems)

ATTENTION: We can use ones ONLY with additional information, i.e. a pre or a post modifier.
If we don’t have a pre or post modifier, we can use some

e.g. We need new curtains. Let’s buy the green ones (or the ones with flowers, etc)

We need new curtains. Let’s buy some (not *..let’s buy ones)
POINTS TO CONSIDER

We DON’T use one/ones:

 After a - Instead, we leave out a

e.g. Have you got lemmons? I need one for my meal

 After pre modifiers nouns

e.g. I thought I had the money in my trouser pocket but it was in my jacket pocket
( not *my jacket one).

 After possessive adjectives

e.g. I’d like a watch like your watch/like yours (not *like your one)

We CAN LEAVE OUT one/ones:

 After which I like the sweater on the shelf. Which (one)?

 After this, these, that, those. The last test was easy. This (one) is difficult.

 After either, neither, another, each, the first/the second/the last

She cleared away the cups and washed each (one) carefully.

We CAN’T LEAVE OUT one/ones

 After the, the only, the main and every

e.g. When you cook clams, don’t eat the ones that don’t open
When I got the glasses home, I found that every one was broken

 After adjectives

e.g. My shoes are very old. I need some new ones

Let’s practice nominal substitution, so far.

1. If necessary, correct the statements

a. We´d like to buy a new car, but we will never be able to afford ones.
b. Many of the questions were difficult, so find the easier and do those first.
c. Help yourself to more nuts if you want ones.
d. We had an orchard, so when we ran out of apples, we could pick ones.
e. Only time will tell if the decisions we have taken are the correct ones.
f. We haven’t got an electric drill, but I could borrow a drill from Joseph.

2. If possible, replace the underlined words or phrases with one or ones

a. Their marriage was a long happy marriage.

b. We’ve got most of the equipment we need, but there are still some small pieces of
equipment we have to buy
c. Traffic is light in most of the city, but there is heavy traffic near the football
stadium
d. “Are these your shoes?” “No, the blue shoes are mine.”
e. All the cakes look good. I think I’ll have that cake on the left.
f. I was hoping to borrow a suit from Chris, but his suit doesn’t fit me.
g. If you are making a cup of tea, could you make a cup of tea for me?
h. At present, the music industry is in a better financial state than the film industry.
i. Many people have a mobile phone although some people have never used a
mobile phone.
j. Which oranges would you like? Can I have those oranges, please?

3. If the sentences is correct without one/ones, put a bracket around it

a. The Government has produced a number of reports on violence on televisión, the

most recen tones only six months ago.
b. The Zoo is the only one in the country where you can see polar bears.
c. In a pack, there are 26 red cards and 26 black ones.
d. I have my Maths exam tomorrow morning but I have already prepared for that one.
e. Australia may have the most poisonous spiders, but the biggest ones live in Asia.
f. There strawberies aren’t as good as the ones we grow ourselves.
g. It was made for one of the early kings of Sweden but I don’t remember which one
h. The floods destroyed some small bridges but left the main ones untouced.
i. Jo Simmons has written 13 stories for children every one totally gripping.
j. The protesters held another demonstration this weekend that was even bigger and
more successful than the first one.
CLAUSAL SUBSTITUTION

We can use SO instead of repeating AN ADJECTIVE, ADVERB OR A WHOLE CLAUSE

e.g. The workers were angry and they had the right to be so (= angry)

John took the work seriously and Petra perhaps even more so (= seriously)

Bob should be the new director. At least, I think so (= that he should be the new
director)

We often use SO instead fo a clause after verbs concerned with thinking: appear/seem, be
afraid, asume, believe, expect, guess, hope, imagine, presume, suppose, suspenct, think and
also after say and tell

e.g. Tom will be home next week. We hope so (= that he will come next week)

I found the plan ridiculous and said so (= that I found the plan ridiculous)

ATENTION: We DON’T use so after certain verbs, including accept, admit, agree, be certain,
claim, doubt, hear, intend, know, promise, suggest, be sure. Instead you reduce the noun
clause

e.g. Liz will organize the party. She promised (that) she would.

The train will be on time today. I’m sure (that) it will

In negative sentences, we use NOT or NOT….. SO (that is negative in the verb..so)

e.g. Is the Party offering anything new? It appears not.

They wanto to buy the house although they didn’t say so directly.

POINTS TO CONSIDER

 We can use EITHER not or negative in the verb…so with: appear, seem, suppose

e.g. There won’t be any seats left. No, I don’t suppose so/ No, I suppose not.

 We use not….so with: believe, expect, imagine, think

e.g. Had she taken the wrong turning? She didn’t think so

 We use …not with be afraid, assume, guess, hope, presume, suspect

e.g. Do you think he will be late? I hope not

Let’s practise so, ..not, not…so

4. Complete the sentences with SO. If it is not possible, complete the sentence with a
noun clause (that….)

a. “Will you be late tonight?” “I’m afraid……

b. “Do you think she´ll like this book as a present?” “ I´m certain….
c. “You will be going to Nancy’s party next week, won’t you?” “I expect…….
d. “Olivia must have taken the money”. “i refuse to accept ….
e. “I think Mark should move to a new school.” “I agree….
f. “I imagine they will have already left:” “I suspect…..
g. “Do you think she’d like to comoe on holidays with us?” “I know….
h. “Were they angry about the decision>?” “It certainly seemed …
i. “Has Jack gone home?” “It appears……
j. “Do you smoke?” “I must admit….

5. Respond using the verb in brackets and so, not or not.. so as appropriate

a. “Don’t you think it is time for you to go home?” “I_________________ (guess)

b. “Surely, you don’t think I would have written that letter?” “I_______________ (hope)
c. “You don’t think that the prisoners have tried to leave the country?” We
____________ (believe)
d. “It looks like Peter isn’t going to keep his job after all.” “It _________________ (seem)
e. “You say you believe the illness is caused by contaminated wáter?” “I
________________ (presume).
f. “The letter won’t have reached her yet, will it? I_______________________ (expect)
g. “After living in a village for so long, Kathy won’t want to live here.” “I
__________________ (imagine)
h. “We’d better not borrow Diane’s books without asking her.” “No, I ______________
(suppose)

VERBAL SUBSTITUTION

We use do so instead of repeating a VERB + OBJECT or VERB + COMPLEMENT.

e.g. She won the competition in 2007 and seems likely to do so ( =win the competition)
again this year.

Dr. Lawson said “SIt down” and Kathy did so (= sat down)

The climbers will try again today to reach the summit. Their chances of doing so (=
reaching the summit) are better today.
 When he was asked to check the figures, he claimed that he had already done so (=
checked the figures).

ATTENTION. DO must be used in the correct tense and form according to the idea and the
context. If you look at the examples again, you will see the use of did, doing or done
accordingly.

6. Make the two sentences into one, joining them with and or but. In the second part
of the sentence, apply verbal substitution

a. She felt capable of taking on the job. She was well qualified to take on the job.
b. I have never met the ambassador. I would welcome the opportunity of meeting the
ambassador.
c. Janet doesn’t normally sell any of her paintings. She might sell her paintings if you ask
her personally.
d. I thought the children would be unhappy about clearing away their toys. They cleared
away their toys withouth complaining.
e. Amy’s piano teacher told her that she must practise every day. She has practised every
day since then.
f. We have always tried to give the best value for money in our shops. We will continue
to try to give the vest value for money in our shops.

ELLIPSIS

Ellipsis means leaving words out of an idea but it is possible ONLY when we can recover those
words from the context, that is if we wanted, we could fully write or say the complete idea.
The verb we use in these cases is ELLIDE, so there is ellipsis when one or some elements have
been ellided (but can be recovered).

There are different cases of ellipsis in English and here are the most frequent ones:

 In clauses joined by and or but, we do not have to repeat the subject in the second
clause (ellipsis of subject)

e.g. Maria went into the room and (she) opened the cupboard.

 In clauses joined by and or but, we can leave out a repeated subject and auxiliary, or
subject and verb. (ellipsis of subject + verb)

e.g. I have read the article and (I have) summarized the main points

ATTENTION. It is not possible to ellide subjects, auxiliaries or verbs after subordinators

  When a second clause repeats a verb phrase, we can use the auxiliary part only.

e.g. I have been to Russia, but Tina hasn’t (been to Russia)

 When a phrase with be + adjective is repeated, we can ellide the second adjective.

e.g. I’m interested in this but Harry isn’t (interested in this)

 We can leave out a repeated verb phrase after to-infinitive or not to-infinitive

e.g. Anna doesn’t play tennis now but she used to (play tennis)

 In noun clauses, we can ellide repeated words after question words.

e.g. He said he would meet us soon but he didn’t say when (he would meet us)

7. Underline the words that can be ellided. It may be impossible in some sentences

a. I don’t have a bike now but I used to have one.

b. Tony will be going to the shops and he will get you some stamps.
c. Harry likes listening to music and he likes playing computer games.
d. I’m worried about the exam, but my friends aren’t worried about it.
e. Mary used to make her own clothes, but she doesn’t maker her own clothes any more.
f. Kate says she is not interested but Rita might want to.
g. Jack said the would bring something but he didn’t say what he would bring.
h. Jim wanted to go swimming but none of his friends felt like it
i. I had done the shopping and I had cleaned all the house by the time he arrived.

HOMEWORK:

In two weeks’ time, we will be discussing Boy, Tales from Childhood, by Roal Dahl. I’m telling
you in advance so that you start reading it and you can have it ready for analysis in due time.
KEY TO THE ACTIVITIES IN LESSON 20

1. If necessary, correct the statements

g. We´d like to buy a new car, but we will never be able to afford ones. ONE
h. Many of the questions were difficult, so find the easier ONES and do those first.
i. Help yourself to more nuts if you want ones. SOME
j. We had an orchard, so when we ran out of apples, we could pick ones. S OME
k. Only time will tell if the decisions we have taken are the correct ones.
l. We haven’t got an electric drill, but I could borrow a drill ONE from Joseph.

2. If possible, replace the underlined words or phrases with one or ones

a. Their marriage was a long happy marriage. ONE

b. We’ve got most of the equipment we need, but there are still some small
pieces of equipment we have to buy
c. Traffic is light in most of the city, but there is heavy traffic near the football
stadium
d. “Are these your shoes?” “No, the blue shoes ONES are mine.”
e. All the cakes look good. I think I’ll have that cake ONE on the left.
f. I was hoping to borrow a suit from Chris, but his suit doesn’t fit me.
g. If you are making a cup of tea, could you make a cup of tea ONE for me?
h. At present, the music industry is in a better financial state than the film
industry.
i. Many people have a mobile phone although some people have never used
mobile phone.
j. Which oranges would you like? Can I have those oranges, ONES please?

3. If the sentences is correct without one/ones, put a bracket around it

a. The Government has produced a number of reports on violence on televisión, the

most recent (ones) only six months ago.
b. The Zoo is the only one in the country where you can see polar bears.
c. In a pack, there are 26 red cards and 26 black ones.
d. I have my Maths exam tomorrow morning but I have already prepared for that
(one).
e. Australia may have the most poisonous spiders, but the biggest (ones) live in Asia.
f. There strawberies aren’t as good as the ones we grow ourselves.
g. It was made for one of the early kings of Sweden but I don’t remember which
(one)
h. The floods destroyed some small bridges but left the main ones untouced.
i. Jo Simmons has written 13 stories for children every one totally gripping.
j. The protesters held another demonstration this weekend that was even bigger
and more successful than the first (one).

4. Complete the sentences with SO. If it is not possible, complete the sentence with
a noun clause (that….)

a. “Will you be late tonight?” “I’m afraid SO”

b. “Do you think she´ll like this book as a present?” “ I´m certain THAT SHE WILL”
c. “You will be going to Nancy’s party next week, won’t you?” “I expect SO”
d. “Olivia must have taken the money”. “i refuse to accept THAT SHE MUST/HAS
e. “I think Mark should move to a new school.” “I agree THA HE SHOULD
f. “I imagine they will have already left:” “I suspect SO
g. “Do you think she’d like to comoe on holidays with us?” “I know SHE WOULD
h. “Were they angry about the decision>?” “It certainly seemed SO
i. “Has Jack gone home?” “It appears SO
j. “Do you smoke?” “I must admit THAT IDO

5. Respond using the verb in brackets and so, not or not.. so as appropriate

a. “Don’t you think it is time for you to go home?” “I_____GUESS SO____ (guess)
b. “Surely, you don’t think I would have written that letter?” “I__HOPE NOT__ (hope)
c. “You don’t think that the prisoners have tried to leave the country?” We __DON’T
BELIEVE SO____ (believe)
d. “It looks like Peter isn’t going to keep his job after all.” “It __SEEMS NOT/DOESN’T
SEEM SO_____ (seem)
e. “You say you believe the illness is caused by contaminated wáter?” “I __PRESUME
SO_____ (presume).
f. “The letter won’t have reached her yet, will it? I___EXPECT NOT______ (expect)
g. “After living in a village for so long, Kathy won’t want to live here.” “I ___ DON’T
IMAGINE SO____ (imagine)
h. “We’d better not borrow Diane’s books without asking her.” “No, I __SUPPOSE
NOT/DONT SUPPOSE SO_____ (suppose)

6. Make the two sentences into one, joining them with and or but. In the second
part of the sentence, apply verbal substitution

a. She felt capable of taking on the job and was well qualified to do so.
b. I have never met the ambassador andI would welcome the opportunity of doing so
c. Janet doesn’t normally sell any of her paintings but she might do so if you ask her
personally.
d. I thought the children would be unhappy about clearing away their toys but they
did so withouth complaining.
e. Amy’s piano teacher told her that she must practise every day and she has done
so since then.
f. We have always tried to give the best value for money in our shops and ee will
continue to do so.

7. Underline the words that can be ellided. It may be impossible in some sentences

a. I don’t have a bike now but I used to have one.

b. Tony will be going to the shops and he will get you some stamps.
c. Harry likes listening to music and he likes playing computer games.
d. I’m worried about the exam, but my friends aren’t worried about it.
e. Mary used to make her own clothes, but she doesn’t make her own clothes any
more.
f. Kate says she is not interested but Rita might want to.
g. Jack said he would bring something but he didn’t say what he would bring.
h. Jim wanted to go swimming but none of his friends felt like it
i. I had done the shopping and I had cleaned all the house by the time he arrived.