Ellipsis

Ellipsis is deleting repeated words that can be understood from a previous clause.

After Linking Words (and, but, or, and then)

o I did the laundry, and I cleaned the kitchen.
→ I did the laundry and cleaned the kitchen.* [deleted the repeated pronoun]

* Note: the comma was deleted too because it no longer connects a complete clause.

o I did the laundry, and then I cleaned the kitchen.

→ I did the laundry and then cleaned the kitchen. [deleted the repeated pronoun]

o I did the laundry, but I didn’t clean the kitchen.

→ I did the laundry but didn’t clean the kitchen. [deleted the repeated pronoun]

After Verbs to Be & Helping Verbs

o Bob is tall, but his brother isn’t tall.
→ Bob is tall, but his brother isn’t. [deleted the repeated adjective]

o Bob has graduated, but his brother hasn’t graduated.

→ Bob has graduated, but his brother hasn’t. [deleted the repeated main verb]

o Bob likes comedy movies, but his brother doesn’t like comedy movies.
→ Bob likes comedy movies, but his brother doesn’t. [deleted the repeated main verb & object]

It is also possible to use other helping verbs in the second clause.

o Bob didn’t travel abroad, but he should have traveled abroad.
→ Bob didn’t travel abroad, but he should have. [deleted the repeated main verb & complement]

After ‘To’ With Infinitives

o I have never met a celebrity, but I would love to meet a celebrity.
→ I have never met a celebrity, but I would love to.* [deleted the repeated main verb & object]
o Bob wanted to cook dinner, but I told him not to cook dinner.
→ Bob wanted to cook dinner, but I told him not to. [deleted the repeated main verb & object]
* Note: In sentences with infinitives, we don’t delete ‘to’.

[GCF-KD-FV2.3]
With ‘So’ & ‘Not’

With Affirmative [+] Clauses

1. After verbs of thinking:
assume, believe, expect, guess, hope, imagine, presume, reckon, suppose, think
o I will clean my room on Sunday, or at least I hope I will clean my room on Sunday.
→ I will clean my room on Sunday, or at least I hope so. [replaced the [+] clause with ‘so’]

o A: Will it rain tomorrow? B: I don’t think it will rain tomorrow.

→ B: I don’t think so. [replaced the [+] clause with ‘so’]

2. After be afraid, appear, seem, say

o A: Has Bob submitted his report? B: It seems Bob has submitted his report.
→ B: It seems so. [replaced the [+] clause with ‘so’]

With Negative [-] Clauses

1. After be afraid, assume, guess, hope, presume, suspect [+] verb + not
o A: Will it rain tomorrow? B: I hope it won’t rain tomorrow.
→ B: I hope not. [+] verb + not

2. After think [-] verb + so

o A: Will it rain tomorrow? B: I think it won’t rain tomorrow.
→ B: I don’t think so. [-] verb + so

3. With the verbs appear, believe, expect, imagine, seem, suppose,

you can use [+] verb + not OR [-] verb + so
o A: I think the test won’t be delayed.
B: I suppose the test won’t be delayed.
→ B: I suppose not. [+] verb + not
→ B: I don’t suppose so. [-] verb + so

[GCF-KD-FV2.3]