Ellipsis and substitution
Avoid repetition like a proficient speaker: ellipsis (leaving words out) and substitution with so, not, one, do so, the same.
In this lesson you will
- Use substitution with one/ones, do/do so, so/not
- Use ellipsis after auxiliaries and to
- Recognise ellipsis in conversation
Learn
Substitution replaces a repeated word: I need a pen — do you have one? These shoes are nicer than the black ones. She said she’d help, and she did. He was asked to resign, and he did so.
so / not replace clauses after think, hope, expect, suppose, be afraid, seem: Will it rain? — I think so. / I hope not. / I’m afraid so. (I don’t think so is more common than I think not.)
Ellipsis leaves words out when they’re obvious: She can speak French and I can* too. I didn’t want to go, but I had to. — Coffee? — Please. — Seen Mark? — Not yet.*
In writing, ellipsis and substitution create cohesion. In speech, situational ellipsis drops subjects and auxiliaries: (Have you) Got a minute? (It) Sounds good.
Examples
- I’d like to help, but I’m not sure I can.
- If you haven’t booked yet, do so now.
- — Is the shop still open? — I doubt it. / I believe so.
- Some students passed the exam; others didn’t.
Vocabulary
ellipsis
leaving out words that are understood
substitution
replacing words with a shorter form
cohesion
links that connect a text
redundant
unnecessary
situational
depending on the context
Practice
— Is he coming? — I hope ___.
Speaking
Answer ten quick questions using substitution and ellipsis only (I think so, I hope not, I’d like to, I already have, etc.).
Writing
Edit a repetitive paragraph (write your own, 120 words) about planning a trip, then rewrite it using ellipsis and substitution to remove repetition.
Lesson quiz
— Did you lock the door? — I believe ___.
Review
Key points
- one/ones for nouns.
- do/do so for verb phrases.
- so/not for clauses.
- Ellipsis after auxiliaries and to.
What you learned
- ✓ I avoid repetition naturally.
- ✓ I use substitution and ellipsis.
- ✓ My writing is more cohesive.
Grammar reference: Sentence structure and word order