English A2 007

CONOCIMIENTOS Y COMPETENCIAS
Discurso Lectura Escritura Audición Gramática Dicción Vocabulario
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ellipsis?ref=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ats.edu.mx%2Fifs%2Fsalc%2F%3Fp%3D4315

Substitution and Ellipsis

SUBSTITUTION OF A NOUN OR NOUN PHRASE

We can use the pronouns ONE/ONES after adjectives or demonstratives.

I’d like a sweet sherry and John would like a dry one.

We don’t use ONE for uncountable nouns.

I really like sweet sherry but my husband prefers dry (sherry)

We can also use the demonstrative pronouns without ONE/ONES.

Which color would you prefer for your room, this one or that?

We can also replace a noun or noun phrase with a quantifier, e.g. some, all, each, none, either, neither,
both, a few….
All the pupils did the exam but only some passed.

SUBSTITUTION OF A VERB OR VERB PHRASE WITH DO

We can use a form of do to avoid repeating a present or past simple verb.

They live very near to where I do.

We can also use it to avoid repeating the main verb in coordinate clauses.
Mark phoned the police and I did too

With coordinate clauses where the action is the same in both, we can also use so/neither +
auxiliary+subject.
Mark phoned the police and so did I.

This pattern can be used to agree in short answers.

I didn’t watch tv last night.
Neither did I.

In informal speech, we can omit do and use the object pronoun with too, neither, nor.
I didn’t watch tv last night.
Me neither/ nor me

Using a form of do is common in comparison clauses.

Men don’t work in the home as much as women do.
SUBSTITUTION OF A VERB OR VERB PHRASE WITH DO SO/IT/THAT

We can use the three patterns to replace a verb phrase which describes a single, specific action. (so is
more formal)
Mary stood up to leave and just as she was doing so/it/that she slipped and fell.

We usually use do it / that when the subject of the verb changes.

The shop assistant couldn’t get hold of the shoplifter.
Were the police able to do it/that?

We prefer to use do so when we talk about an activity rather than a single, specific action.
People would like to smoke in public places but they are banned from doing so.

We use only do to replace verbs which refer to events outside our control, e.g. believe, lose, forget…
He told her not to forget his phone number but she did.

SUBSTITUTION OF A CLAUSE

We can verbs like expect / think / believe / imagine with so to avoid repeating the preceding
information.
Will they be coming to our party?
I expect so.

To express a negative purpose, most verbs make the verb negative and use so: imagine, think, expect,
suppose and believe.
Will they be coming to our party?
I don’t think so.

Some verbs, however, use only not: be afraid, guess, hope, suppose.
Will they be coming to our party?
I guess not.

We substitute if clauses with if so, and if not.

They will find the restaurant easily; if not, they can always ask a passerby.

We can use so at the beginning of a short answer when we agree to a statement with a certain amount
of surprise.
I won the jackpot in the lottery!
So you did!

ELLIPSIS: OMITTING A NOUN/PRONOUN

We often omit nouns or pronouns in the second of two coordinate clauses.

I went to the bar and (I) asked for a beer.

We do not leave out pronouns in subordinate clauses.

I went to the bar and (I) asked for a beer because I was thirsty.
ELLIPSIS: OMITTING A VERB

We can omit a verb to avoid repeating it.

Coffee appeals to young people and tea to the elderly.

Generally we do not omit the auxiliary or modal.

Was it a good idea to buy that flat?
I think I shouldn’t/ I think I shouldn’t have.

We can introduce a new modal in order to add interpretation.

Has the boss arrived?
It’s ten o’clock. He must have.

If the comparison clause begins with a pronoun and we omit the verb phrase, we use the object pronoun
rather than the subject pronoun.
You certainly are more intelligent than her.

ELLIPSIS: OMITTING INFINITIVES OR WH- CLAUSES

We can omit an infinitive phrase when the meaning is clear.

Although Mary has tried hard to stop smoking, she hasn’t been able to.

After most verbs which are followed by to + infinitive such as forget, ask and promise we can omit to.
Did you buy the presents?
I forgot (to).

After want and would like in if or wh- clause we can also omit to.
Leave the stuff wherever you want (to).

Leaving out words after auxiliaries (do, be, have, modals)

I’ll come and see you when I can. (= can come and see you)
She says she has finished, but I don’t think she has. (= has finished)

Leaving out to-infinitives

I wanted to come with you, I won’t be able to. (= to come with you)
“Let’s go for a walk.” “I don’t want to.” (=to go for a walk)

Leaving out articles, possessives, personal pronouns, auxiliaries at the beginning of sentences
- My wife’s on holiday. => Wife’s on holiday.
- Have you seen Joe? => Seen Joe?
- I couldn’t understand a word. => Couldn’t understand a word.
Exercise A Substitute the underline words

1. My parents think that saving money is important. I think saving money is important.
2. Although she was curious about the news, she didn’t want to hear the news.
3. His wounds are more serious than the wounds of that man.
4. Even though I forbade him to come to the party, he still came to the party.
5. Look at the black clouds. The black clouds look scary, don’t they?
6. James: “Our school will win the coming match.”
Tony : “I don’t suppose our school will win the coming match.”
7. She told me to visit her yesterday. Although I felt lazy, I visited her yesterday.
8. My father loves listening to the music, especially the music of Elvis Presley.
9. According to my father, there were twenty men killed in the accident, but I thought there weren’t
twenty men killed in the accident.
10. I love reading most comics, especially the comics that tell about history.

Exercise B Join these two sentences.

1. Bob is a diligent student. Tom is a diligent student.

2. Mary would enjoy the game. Jane would enjoy the game.
3. He runs very fast. She runs very fast.
4. I have read it. She has read it.
5. Paul has to work hard. Cindy has to work hard.
6. My nephew cannot swim. My aunt cannot swim.
7. Cats don’t like grass. Dogs don’t like grass.
8. We never went to a concert. They never went to a concert.
9. We haven’t seen him for almost a year. Our parents haven’t seen him for almost a year.
10. I don’t have any objection to the matter. My spouse doesn’t have any objection to the matter.

Exercise C Rewrite the following sentences by leaving out words.

1. Why did you not tell me about it?

2. Do you want me to help you?
3. Is this book enjoyable to read?
4. You’re wrong, Peter!
5. That’s excellent news.

Exercise D Rewrite the following sentences by using the omitted words.

1. Want some more chocolate?

2. Hear that just now?
3. Got some money to lend?
4. Hard to do that.
5. Wow! Awesome!
Exercise E Find the mistake in each of the lines of text and underline it. Then, correct the mistake.

1. My uncle was absolutely delighted with the present, but my aunt didn't.
2. I never thought I would see her again, but yesterday I would.
3. I was afraid she might already have seen the film, but she didn't.
4. As soon as he started smoking, she asked him not so.
5. Do you have time to answer a few questions? No, I'm afraid so.
6. Will Alex be coming? I assume that unless he's got something else to do.

Exercise F Use one word to complete the sentences. You can use some words more than once.

I've never been to America but my sister ________ .

I don't really want to go to the party and ___________ does Annie.
'Do you think it's going to rain?' 'I hope ______. We're supposed to be having a barbecue later.'
Paul's off sick today. _________'s why I'm doing his job.
If I'm there before midnight, I'll call you. If _________, I'll call first thing tomorrow.
Not those plates. I mean the __________ we used for the party last year.
I love Phuket. Have you ever been ________?
This hotel is much better than the ________ we stayed in last time.
'Is Carol coming in today?' 'I don’t think _____.'
'My computer's stopped working.' 'So has ______ . It must be a network problem.'
'Do you think we'll get a bonus this year?' 'I don't expect ________. The results were awful.'
'Is Mike coming to the meeting?' 'He said he ______. '
 ANSWERS

Exercise E. Exercise F
1. didn’t wasn’t 1. has
2. would did 2. neither
3. didn’t hadn’t 3. not
4. so to 4. that
5. so not 5. not
6. that so 6. ones
7. there
8. one
9. so
10. mine
11. so
12. was