Substitution and ellipsis

1. Substitution and
ellipsis

2. 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)

3. Substitution of a noun or
noun phrase
• We can also use the demonstrative pronouns without
ONE/ONES.
 Which colour 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.

4. 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.

5. Substitution of a verb or
verb phrase with do
• 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 telly last night.
 Neither did I.

6. Substitution of a verb or
verb phrase with do
• In informal speech, we can omit do and use the object
pronoun with too, neither, nor.
 I didn’t watch telly 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.

7. 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?

8. Substitution of a verb or verb phrase with do
so/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.

9. Substitution of a clause
• We can use 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, believe.
 Will they be coming to our party?
 I don’t think so.

10. Substitution of a clause
• 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.

11. Substitution of a clause
• 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!

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. Ellipsis: omitting a verb
• 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.

15. 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).

16. Ellipsis: omitting infinitives
or wh- clauses
• After want and would like in if or wh- clause we can
also omit to.
 Leave the stuff wherever you want (to).