Unit V. Ellipsis

Key words: ellipsis,omit, emphasis, easily, recover,zero item, imply, remainder,auxiliary,clause.

The word ‘ellipsis’ comes from the Greek and it means “to leave out” or “fall short”.

An elliptical sentence is a sentence where a part of the structure has been omitted for reasons of economy, emphasis or style. The omitted element can be easily recovered from the context.

Like substitution, ellipsis is a grammatical rather than semantic relationship, i.e. it expresses the grammatical relation between words, phrases or clauses in a text. Ellipsis is said to be a special case of ‘substitution’, in which an item (or items) is substituted by zero item.

Though substitution and ellipsis are similar in their function as the linguistic link of cohesion, ellipsis differs in that it is “substitution by zero”.

There are three types of ellipsis: nominal, verbal, and clausal. The nominal ellipsis is the one which operates on the nominal group. Verbal ellipsis, as the name implies, operates on the verbal group.Clausal ellipsis is a very complicated phenomenon. The following example shows us how ellipsis works.

Some of the water which falls as rain flows on the surface as streams. Another part is evaporated. The remainder sinks into the ground and is known as ground water.

“Another part” means “another part of the water” and “The remainder” means “the remainder of the water”. Similarly,

The 74 species of African antelope share certain basic features: all are exclusively vegetarian and bear one large and precocious calf each year.

The Use of Ellipsis

1) When you link clauses which have the same subject, you do not always need to repeat the subject in the second clause. If the conjunction is ‘and’, ‘or’, or ‘then’, you do not usually repeat the subject.

He took her hands from her eyes and led her towards the house.

It’s a long time since you’ve bought them a drink or talked to them.

When she recognized Morris she went pale, then blushed.

If the conjunction is ‘but’, ‘so’, or ‘yet’, it is usual to repeat the subject.

I try and see it their way, but I can’t.

I had no car, so I hired one for the journey.

He lost the fight, yet somehow he emerged with his dignity enhanced.

2) When you link clauses which have different subjects but which have some common elements, you do not need to repeat all the elements in the second clause.For example, instead of saying ‘Some of them went to one pub and some of them went to the other pub’, you can say ‘Some of them went to one pub and some to the other’.

One soldier was killed and another wounded.

One of its sides was painted black and the other white.

3) The link verb ‘be’ is repeated, in an appropriate form. For example, ‘I was scared and the children were too’.

I think you’re right. ’—‘I’m sure I am.’

If the second verb group contains a modal, you usually put ‘be’ after the modal. ‘Bit of an unfair question to ask me because I’m biased.’ – ‘Thought you might be.’

‘He thought that it was hereditary in his case.'—‘Well, it might be. ’

However, this is not necessary if the first verb group also contains a modal. I’ll be back as soon as I can.

‘Be’ is sometimes used after a modal in the second clause to contrast with another link verb such as ‘seem’, ‘look’, or ‘sound’.

‘It looks like tea to me.’ - Yes ,it could be.’

If the first verb is the main verb ‘have’, a form of ‘have’ is sometimes used instead of a form of ‘do’.

She probably has a temperature – she certainly looks as if she has.

You can make the second verb group negative by adding ‘not’ to the auxiliary. These combinations are contracted in informal speech and writing to ‘don’t’, ‘hasn’t’, ‘isn’t’, ‘mustn’t’, and so on. You use the same forms for a negative response to a question.

Some managed to vote but most of them didn’t.

‘You’re staying here!’—‘But Gertrude, I can’t, I mustn’t!’

‘And did it work?'—‘No, I’m afraid it didn’t.'

Widows receive state benefit; widowers do not.

He could have listened to the radio. He did not.

With passives, ‘be’ is often, but not always, kept after a modal.

He argued that if tissues could be marketed, then anything could be.

However, with perfect passives, you can just use the auxiliary ‘have’ or ‘has’. For example, you could say, ‘Have you been interviewed yet? I have’.

Note that when a modal with ‘have’ is used for a passive or continuous verb group, ‘been’ cannot be omitted.

I'm sure it was repeated in the media. It must have been.

Priller noticed that they were not flying in tight formation as they should have been.

If the second verb group contains the auxiliary ‘have’ in any form, you can add ‘done’ to the group. For example, instead of saying ‘He says he didn’t see it but he must have’, you can say ‘He says he didn’t see it but he must have done’.

When these questions are satisfactorily answered I might perhaps view their infantile behaviour more charitably than I have done to date.

It would have been nice to have won, and I might have done if my concentration hadn't lapsed.

Similarly, you can use ‘do’ after modals. It makes a click like the lid of a tin may do.

4) Usually ellipsis occurs in a clause which comes after a clause in which the action or state has been mentioned with a main verb. Occasionally, however, for a deliberate effect, the clause containing the ellipsis comes before the clause explicitly mentioning the action or state.

If, as they should be, directors are themselves scholars, they will appreciate the language that scholars use.

5) You can omit a verb after the semi-modals ‘dare’ and ‘need’, but not when they are used in the negative.

I don’t mind telling you what I know. ’—‘You needn’t. I’m not asking you for it. ’

‘You must tell her the truth. ’—‘But, Neill, I daren’t.’

Similarly, the verb is only omitted after the modal expressions ‘had rather ‘ and ‘would rather’ when they are used in the negative. However, the verb is sometimes omitted after ‘had better’ even when it is used affirmatively

Will she be happy there?’—‘She’d better.’

It’s just that I’d rather not.

6) Ellipsis also occurs with ‘to’-infinitive clauses. Instead of using a full ‘to’-infinitive clause after a verb, you can just use ‘to’, if the action or state has already been mentioned.

Don’t tell me if you don’t want to.

At last he agreed to do what I asked him to.

You can also do this in conversation.

‘Do you ever visit a doctor?’ I asked her.—No. We can’t afford to. ’

Note that there are some verbs, such as ‘try’ and ‘ask’, which are also often used on their own, without ‘to’.

They couldn’t help each other, and it was ridiculous to try.

Some water boards will replace washers free of charge jf you ask.

7) Ellipsis often occurs in conversation in replies and questions. When ellipsis occurs like this, it can involve ellipsis of the main verb.

This is common with questions which show that you find what someone has said interesting or surprising, or that you do not agree with them. These questions always have a pronoun as their subject.

‘He gets free meals.’ - ‘Does he?’

‘They’re starting up a new arts centre there.’ - ‘Are they?’

‘I’ve checked everyone.’ - ‘Have you now?’

8) You can often use ellipsis in questions when the context makes it clear what is meant. The question can consist of just a ‘wh’-word.

‘There’s someone coming. ’ - ‘Who?’ - I don’t know. It’s too dark and there’s snow falling. ’

‘But I’m afraid there’s more.’– ‘What?’

‘Can I speak to you?’ I asked, undaunted.- ‘Why?’ - ‘It’s important.’

‘It’s opening on the 31st of this month.’- ‘Where?’- ‘At the Railway Hotel.’

Note that you can also use ‘why not’. ‘Maria! We won’t discuss that here.’ - ‘Why not?’

Note also that you can use a ‘wh’-word after a reporting verb, especially ‘why’.

I asked why. They enquired how.

9) Other questions can also consist of only a very few words when the context makes it clear what is meant. Short questions of this kind are often used to express surprise or to offer something to someone.

‘Could you please come to Ira’s right away and help me out?’—‘Now?Tonight?’- ‘It’s incredibly important.’

‘Does she drink? Heavily, I mean.’—‘Drink? No, she never touches the stuff. ’

‘He’s going to die, you see.’ - ‘Die?’

‘Cup of coffee?’ Lionel asked, kindly.

He drank the water and handed me the glass.’More?’ ‘No, that’s just fine, thank you.’

10) When you reply to‘wh’-questions, you can often use one word or a group of words rather than a full sentence. You do this to avoid repeating words used in the question. For example, if someone asks ‘What is your favourite colour?’, the normal reply is a single word, for example ‘Blue’, rather than a sentence such as ‘My favourite colour is blue’.

‘What’s your name?’- ‘Pete.’

‘How do you feel?’- ‘Strange.’

‘Where do you come from?’- ‘Cardiff.’

‘Where are we going?- ‘Up the coast.’

‘How long have you been out of this country?’ - About three months.’

‘How much money is there in that case?’ - ‘Six hundred pounds.'

‘Why should they want me to know?’ - To scare you, perhaps. Who can tell?’

11) You can often use a sentence adjunctor an adverb of degreerather than a sentence.

‘Do you think you could keep your mouth shut if I was to tell you something?’- ‘Definitely.’

Do you think they're very important?’ - ‘Maybe.’

‘Do you enjoy life at the university?’ - Oh yes, very much.’

‘Are you interested?’ - ‘Very.’

‘Are you ready, Matthew?’ - ‘Not quite.’

‘Is she sick?’ - ‘Not exactly.’

12) You often use ellipsis when you want to show that you agree with something that has just been said, or to say that it also applies to someone or something else. One way of doing this is by using ‘too’ after an auxiliary or form of ‘be’.

‘I like baked beans.’ – ‘Yes, I do too.’

‘I've already talked to Santos.’ –‘I did too.’

The other way of doing this is to use ‘so’ followed by the auxiliary or form of ‘be’, followed by the subject.

I find that amazing.- ‘So do I.’

Note that you can also use ellipsis like this within a sentence to indicate that someone or something is the same. He does half the cooking and so do I.

13) You can also use ellipsis when you want to show that you agree with something negative that has just been said, or to say that it also applies to someone or something else. One way of doing this is by using an auxiliary or form of ‘be’ followed by ‘not’ and ‘either’.

I don’t know. - I don’t either.

The other way is to use ‘nor’ or ‘neither’ followed by an auxiliary or form of ‘be’, followed by the subject.

‘I don’t like him.’ - ‘Nor do I.’

‘The demands will not disappear.’ – ‘Nor should they.’

‘I’m not joking, Philip.’ - ‘Neither am I.’

14) Note that you can also use ellipsis in these ways within a sentence.

I don’t know what you’re talking about, Miss Haynes, and I’m pretty sure you don’t either.

I will never know all that was in his head at the time, nor will anyone else.

I can’t do anything about this and neither can you.

PRACTICE

Exercise 1.Which of the following statements is the correct ellipsis definition?

A. An addition of unnecessary information.

B. An omission of unnecessary information.

C. The use of three dots as a sign of laziness.

Exercise 2.Which part of the following sentence could be omitted as an example of ellipsis?

I went to the park yesterday and Joe went to the park also.

A. Went

B. Yesterday

C. To the park.

Exercise 3.Define the type of ellipsis in the following sentences:

1. The streets were deserted, the doors bolted.

2. His brow was furrowed, his mouth peevish.

3. Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something.

4. Prosperity is a great teacher; adversity a greater.

5. In proportion as he simplifies his life, the laws of the universe will appear less complex, and solitude will not be solitude, nor poverty poverty, nor weakness weakness.

6. Her eyes are sunk and reverting to liquid, her gait is stooped, her upper lip crowned with a moustache of close to squadron-leader density.

7. Her hair was silver-tipped, her eyes large and bright.

8. Superman debuted in 1938, Batman in 1939, Wonder Woman in 1941.

9. Some people go to priests; others to poetry; I to my friends.

10. Vanessa had to leave her children and come running, nurses had to be hired, rest homes interviewed, transport accomplished.

11. When well used, ellipsis can create a bond of sorts between the writer and the reader. The writer is saying, in effect, I needn't spell everything out for you; I know you'll understand.

12. Later, it does not surprise me to find myself in Miss Mey's shiny black car, sharing the back seat with the other lucky ones. Does not surprise me that I thoroughly enjoy the fair.

13. There is much to support the view that it is clothes that wear us, and not we, them.

14. True stories deal with hunger, imaginary ones with love.

Exercise 4. Make the following sentences elliptical. What types of elliptical sentences are they (which parts of a sentence might be omitted)?

1. What were you thinking about? – I was thinking about you.

2. Have you seen your neighbours yet?

3. Are you Susan’s father?

4. I don’t know anything about it.

5. When are you leaving? – We are leaving on Monday.

6. Who lives in this house? – Jane lives here.

Exercise 5.

A.Combine these sentences by using ‘ so ’ or ‘neither’:

1.Ali has a pair of shoes. Rina has a pair of shoes.

2.The soldiers shoot the bird every morning. The policemen shoot the bird every morning.

3.I am never absent here. He is never absent here.

4.They read the newspaper this morning. She read the newspaper thismorning.

5.We rarely speak English in class. They rarely speak English in class.

6.The cat didn’t eat the mouse. The dog didn’t eat the mouse.

7. Superman doesn’t help the old woman. Batman doesn’t help the old woman.

8.You must go home. We must go home.

9.Last year, Rindi seldom visited me. Last year, Rano seldom visited me.

10.I have told you why she cried. He has told you why she cried.

B. Combine these sentences by using ‘ too’ or ‘either’:

1.Bakabon is always happy. I am always happy.

2.The old man hardly walks on the street. The old women hardly walk onthe street.

3.The tiger will run after you. The lion will run after you.

4.I don’t like him. The monkey doesn’t like him.

5.He often says that he hates me. They often say that he hates me.

6.Bon Jovi won’t sing in my birthday party. Ariel won’t sing in my birthday party.

7.They are looking at the view. She is looking at the view.

8.I put many books in my cupboard. My sister put many books in her cupboard.

9.I knew where they live. We knew where they live.

10. I’ll never believe that you are bad. They’ll never believe that you are bad.

D. Fill in the blanks by using so, too, either and neither:

1.The cat likes staying in my house and ………….. the mice.

2.We aren’t listening to the music. The children …………

3. My brother should study hard. I ……………

4.Swimming needs a good stamina. ……………. running.

5.The man who always comes to my house gives me money. The fishermen…

6. Her mother doesn’t work in a company. …………..their mothers.

7.Wiwin may dance whatever dance that she wants. ………….. I.

8.The ant never likes salt. The flies ……….

9.They pretend to be some doctors. We ……….

10. Ronaldo, Roberto, Ronaldinho and Suranto weren’t farmers. ……… You.

Exercise 6. Point out two-member sentences (say whether they are complete or elliptical) and one-member sentences

1. a) Stop! b) Stop being funny.

2. Hello! Glad to see you.

3. “In a hurry?” “Rather.”

4.”How are the boys?” “Fine.”

5. “I wish you a fine weekend.” “Thanks. The same to you.”

6. “Did you see the film?” “Yes.” “Like it?” “No.”

7. No smoking.

8. Arrived yesterday. Letter following.

9. Glass. Handle with care.

10. Ten killed in accident.

11. Obedient little trees, fulfilling their duty.

12. Lucretius knew very little about what was going on in the world. Lived like a mole in a burrow. Lived on his own fat like a bear in winter.

13. He wants to write a play for me. One act.One man.Decides to commit suicide.

14. A beautiful day, quite warm.

15. “How did he look?”, “Grey but otherwise much the same.”“And the daughter?”, “Pretty.”

16. And then the silence and the beauty of this camp at night. The stars.The mystic shadow water.The wonder and glory of all this.