ELLIPSIS AND SUBSTITUTION

Ellipsis of repeated verb phrases

Laura has never been to the states but her sister has (been there).

Gary thinks he is right, but he isn’t (right).

They said I would love the film, but I don’t think I would (love it).

Œ  substitute an auxiliary or modal verb for the repeated verb phrases

I didn’t like the film, but Mike did (= liked the film).

  if the verb phrase is in the present or past simple, substitute do/does/did for it

I thought I would be able to come tonight, but in fact I can’t (come tonight).

I know you’ve never learned to drive, but I really think you should have (learned to drive).

A: You must see his latest film.

B: I already have (seen it).

I haven’t been to (= went to) Egypt, but I’d love to (go there).

Ž  You can do the ellipsis of repeated verb phrases even if the modal/auxiliary verbs are different

The students cheated in the exam, even though I told them not to (cheat).

  When the elliptical verb phrase is an infinitive phrase, you can substitute in to.

Substitution

To avoid repeating a verb phrase, or even a whole sentence, you can use so.

I’ll have finished the work by Friday, or at least I hope so (= I’ll have finished the work by Friday).

A: Will you be working on Saturday?

B: I suppose so (= I will be working on Saturday), unless we get everything done tomorrow.

Mark loves animals, and his sister even more so (= loves animals).

Œ  You can use so in this manner after the following verbs: assume, believe, expect, guess, hope, imagine, presume, suppose, think, be afraid, appear, seem, say

A: Do you think it’ll rain tonight?

B: I hope not (= it won’t rain tonight).

A: She’s not very likely to pass, is she?

B: No, I’m afraid not (= she isn’t likely to pass).

The children may be back, but I don’t think so (= they are back).

I know she liked the present, even though she didn’t say so (= she liked the present).

 affirmative verb + not: be afraid, assume, guess, hope, presume, suspect

Ž negative verb + so: believe, expect, imagine, think

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