Unit IV. Substitution

Key words: substitution, replacing, item, particular, nominal, verbal, clausal, conjunction, head, nominal group, pro-form, time relater, time adjuncts, place relater, place adjuncts, operators.

Substitution is the process of replacing one item by another at a particular place in a structure.

Whereas reference functions to link semantic meanings within text, substitution is used when a speaker or writer wishes to avoid the repetition of a lexical item and is able to draw on one of the grammatical resources of the language to replace the item.

Substitution is a relation between linguistic items such as words or phrases. Substitution is a grammatical category. Since substitution is a grammatical category the substitute may function as a noun, as a verb, or as a clause. There are three types of substitution: nominal, verbal, and clausal.

The three types of classification for substitution: nominal, verbal and clausal, reflect its grammatical function. When something in text is being substituted, it follows that the substituted item maintains the same structural function as the presupposed item. In nominal substitution, the most typical substitution words are “one and ones” and they substitute nouns. In verbal substitution, the most common substitute is the verb “do” and is sometimes used in conjunction with “so” as in “do so” and substitute verbs.In clausal substitution, an entire clause is substituted and though it may seem to be similar to either nominal or verbal substitution, the difference is the presupposed anaphoric reference.

Nominal substitution

The substitute ‘one’, including its plural form ones’, always functions as head in the nominal group, and can substitute only for an item which is itself head of a nominal group, as in:

My axe is too blunt. I must get a sharper one.

The substitute ‘one’ in the second sentence substitutes for the noun ‘axe’ in the first sentence. It would be possible to repeat the noun ‘axe’ in the second sentence to read ‘I must get a sharper axe’. Moreover, the substitute ‘one’ assumes the function of the presupposed item. One or Ones are the terms most commonly used for nominal substitution in English. The most obvious substitutes (pro-forms) for noun phrases are the 3rd person pronouns.

Doctor Solway took the student’s blood pressure that day. He also examined his lungs and heart.

It should be noticed that he substitutes for Dr Solway and his for the student. One can be a pro-form for a noun phrase head or for an indefinite noun phrase. Certain other items can be pro-forms for noun phrases, in particular all, any, both, each, either, neither, some, none. They can be regarded as elliptical, since they can be expanded by of with some appropriate preposition-complement.

The boys applied for a scholarship. Each (of them) was able to present excellent references.

The same is a pro-form for a noun phrase. The phrase it replaces must be identical with the antecedent.

A: Can I have a cup of black coffee with sugar, please? B: Give me the same, please.

Pro-forms for adverbials

Some time relaters can be pro-forms for time adjuncts, principally then (= ‘at that time), but also that when it functions as subject and when the verb is intensive:

We saw John at eight on Monday evening. We told him then that we would be coming to the party.

A: I’m meeting George for a drink this evening. B: That would be the best time to raise the subject.

Some place relaters can be pro-forms for place adjuncts, principally here (= ‘at/to this place’), and there (— ‘at/to that place’), but also that (= ‘that place’) and it (= ‘that place’) when they function as subject and when the verb is intensive:

Look in the top drawer. You’ll probably find it there.

The most common pro-forms for process adjuncts are in that way, that way (informal) and like.