ELLIPTICAL SENTENCE

INTRODUCTION
One of sentences or constructions which is usually used in everyday communication is elliptical
sentence or construction. It is a kind of construction in which the speaker deletes the item or
items from the construction. However, when he or she wants to delete, he or she has to pay
attention to the rule stated above. The rule is based on both linguistics and non linguistics
context. Here is one example of ellipsis based on linguistics context:
After learning English, I am able to speak it fluently.
After learning English can be made into complete form: After I learned English or after I
have learned English.
Further explanation of it is as follows.

THE STRUCTURE OF ELLIPTICAL CONSTRUCTION

The structures of English elliptical construction are as follows:
1. The elliptic structures
a. Two positive statements that have same predicate (including object and complement) can
be arranged as follows:
subject + verb (be) + and + subject + verb (be) + too
subject + verb (be) + and + so + verb (be) + subject
Here are some of the examples:
1) He is busy. I am busy.
He is busy, and I am too. Or
He is busy, and so am I.
2) You bought a new book. She bought a new book.
You bought a new book, and she did too. Or
You bought a new book, and so did she.
3) John likes swimming. Maria likes swimming.
John likes swimming, and Maria does too. Or

 John likes swimming, and so does Maria.

4) Budi has written it. I have written it.
Budi has written it, and I have too. Or
Budi has written it, and so have I

b. Two Negative statements that have same predicate (including object and complement) can
be arranged as follows:
Negative statement, + and + subject + negative auxiliary + either

Negative statement, + and + neither + positive auxiliary + subject

Here are some examples:

1) I dont like smoking. He doesnt like smoking.
I dont like smoking, and he doesnt either. Or
I dont like smoking, and neither does he.
2) He wasnt ill and I wasnt ill.
He wasnt ill, and I wasnt either. Or
He wasnt ill, and neither was I.
3) Ali didnt ask any question. You didnt ask any question.
Ali didnt ask any question, and you didnt either. Or
Ali didnt ask any question, and neither did you.

c. Two positive statements which contain compound verb (auxiliary/modal + verb) can be
arranged by using the pattern in point a.
Here are some examples:
1) He will come here soon. She will come here soon.
He will come here soon, and so will she. Or
He will come here soon, and she will too.
2) Budi can play the piano. I can play the piano.
Budi can play the piano, and I can too. Or

 Budi can play the piano, and so can I.

d. Two negative statements which contain compound verb (auxiliary/modal + verb) can be
arranged by using the pattern in point b.
Here are some examples:
1) He cant play tennis. You cant play tennis.
He cant play tennis, and you cant either. Or
He cant play tennis and neither can you.

e. The combination of negative statements and positive statements with the same tense is
arranged by using the conjunction but.
The pattern is as follows:
Subject +

Negative
auxiliary
(modal)

negative
.. + but + subject + auxiliary
(modal)

..

Here are some of the examples:

1) Amir can play a guitar. Ali cant play a guitar.
Amir can play a guitar, but Ali cant.
Arifah is a student. Fatimah is not a student.
Arifah is a student, but Fatimah isnt.
2) I dont like smoking. He likes smoking.
I dont like smoking, but he does.
3) She didnt buy a new car. You bought a new car.
She didnt buy a new car, but you did.

f. The combination of two positive statements which contains verb, noun, etc; in the same
tense is arranged by using the conjunction
Here are some of the examples:
1) I study English. He studies English.
Both I and he study English.
2) Amir was happy. Udin was happy.

Bothand

 Both Amir and Udin were happy.

3) You can drive a car. He can drive a car.
Both you and he can drive a car.
4) You have written a novel. Rina has written a novel.
Both you and Rina have written a novel.
g. The pattern below is used to state one of two actions in two sentences with same tense.
Either or + positive auxiliary (modal).

Here are some of the examples:

1) We can read a newspaper. We can play the guitar.
We can either read a newspaper or play the guitar.
2) He will take it. I will take it.
Either he or I will take it.
3) You may play football. You may play tennis.
You may play either football or tennis.
h. The pattern below is used to state none of:
Neithernor+ positive auxiliary (modal).
Here are some of the examples:
1) My brother isnt policeman. My brother isnt a postman.

My brother is neither a policeman nor a postman.

2) He doesnt want a pencil. He doesnt want a book.

He wants neither a pencil nor a book.

3) Betty cant read. Mary cant read.

Neither Betty nor Mary can read.

4) I didnt buy a car. My friend didnt buy a car.

Neither I nor my friend bought a car.

2. The place of Ellipsis in a sentence

Ellipsis can happen in some positions in a sentence. According to Swan (1980: 197), ellipsis
at the beginning of a sentence is described as follows:
a. Words that can be left out are articles, possessives, personal pronouns and auxiliary verbs.
For examples:
1) Car s giving trouble again. (=The cars)
2) Whats the matter? Stomachs sore. (My stomach)
3) Couldnt understand what he wanted (=I couldnt understand what he wanted.)
4) Seen Andy? (=Have you seen Andy?)

b. Personal pronouns can always be left out before ordinary verbs, if this leaves the meaning
clear. For examples:
1) Wonder what shes doing.
2) Hope to see you soon.
3) Looks just like his father.
A personal pronoun cannot always be left out before an auxiliary verb. A subject
pronoun before a negative auxiliary verb, and sometimes before a modal auxiliary verb
like must, but the subject before affirmative have, be or will cannot be dropped. For
examples:
1) Cant do it.
2) Havent seen him.
3) Wont work, you know.
4) May see you tomorrow.
5) Must dust.
6) Doesnt know what she wants.
However, it is possible to drop the subject pronoun and the auxiliary, if this
leaves the meaning clear. For examples:
1) See you soon.
2) Coming tomorrow.
3) Forgotten your name.

c. In affirmative sentences, ellipsis is most common with first-person or third-person

subjects. The replacement subject there can also be left out. For example: Nobody at
home. (=There is nobody at home.)
Ellipsis is less common with second-person subjects (except in questions), but is perfectly
possible in cases where the meaning clear. For examples:
1) Cant go in there. (=You cant)
2) Need your oil changing.
3) Have to wait a bit, Im afraid.
4) Keeping well, I hope.

d. In questions, auxiliary verbs (do, have, be, or will) can be left out. The subject can be
dropped as well if this leaves the meaning clear. For examples:
1) You ready?
2) Ready?
3) Your father got a car?
4) Anybody want more?
5) You be here tomorrow?
e. Ellipsis is very common in sentences that have some sort of tag stuck on the end. For
examples:
a. Cant swim, myself.
b. Dutch, arent you?
c. Going on holiday, your kids?
d. Like my pint, I do.
e. Getting in your way, am I?
Meanwhile, the places of ellipsis in a sentence that are stated by Masud (1998: 297)
are as follows:
1. Ellipsis of subject and (or Auxiliary)/ (Modal).
For examples:
a. Ridwan ate a cheese sandwich and (Ridwan) drank a glass of coffee.

b. Yulia should clean the shed and Amir (should) mow the lawn.
c. The volcano erupted much more violently than (it) was foreseen.
d. Bakri must have been studying English and Farida (must have been) doing her
homework.

2. Ellipsis of predicate or predication

For examples:
a. I work in a factory, and my brother (works) on a farm.
b. She will study today, and she may (study) tomorrow.
c. Its cold in December in England, but (it is cold) in July in New Zealand.
d. Arif is playing football for his school, and Yusuf (is playing football) for his club.
e. Adi will take the course, and Udin might (take the course) too.

3. Ellipsis of Direct Object or Subject Complement.

For examples:
a. Hasan likes (Dewi), and Agus hates, Dewi.
b. Ismail was happy, and Rahmad certainly seemed so (happy).
c. Nashir has recently become (a very diligent student), and his brother always was, a very
diligent student.

3. The Kinds of Ellipsis

According to Quirk et al (1973: 251-253), there are two kinds of ellipsis, namely ellipsis
depending on linguistic context and nonlinguistic context.
a. Ellipsis depends on linguistic context
1) Adverbial finite clause
In adverbial finite clause, the whole
predicate or part of predicate can be deleted.
Examples:
a. I am happy if you are (happy).
b. Mary is dusting the furniture because Alice wont (dust the furniture).

2) Adverbial non-finite and verb less clauses

The subjects (co-referential) with that of the superordinate clause and an appropriate
form of be are ellipted in:
a) Participle Clauses
Example: Although (he was) told to stop, he kept on working.
If there is no subordinator, more than one subordinator can be available, and maybe
there are some possibilities for time and aspect.
Examples:
1. (If/When they are) punished, they will not cooperate.
2. Although living many miles away, he attended the course= although he is
living/was living/lives/lived many miles away, he attended the course.
b) Verb less clauses
Example:
While (he was) at oxford, he was active in the dramatic society.
3) Post modification
Post modifying clauses or clause or phrase can often be considered relative clauses
which are reduced:
a. Post modifying clauses
Examples:
1) The police rounded up men (who are/were) known to have been in the building at
that time.
2) The man owning that car will be fined for illegal parking.
b. Post modifying adjective phrases
Example:
The men (who were) responsible for the administration of the school refused to
consider the matter.
c. Post modifying prepositional phrases
Example:
He spoke to the girl (who was) from New York.

4) Supplementing and appended clauses

A supplementing clause can be regarded as an elliptical clause (usually parenthetic or
an after thought) for which the whole of the preceding or interrupted clause constitutes
the ellipsis:
Example: I caught the train.-just.
(= I caught the train. I only just caught the train)
In appended clause only part of the preceding or the interrupted clause constitutes the
ellipsis, and an additional clause constituent is present:
Example:
They are meant to wound, perhaps to kill.
(= They are meant to wound. They are perhaps meant to kill).

b. Ellipsis does not depend on linguistic context

Some informational ellipsis types which do not depend on linguistic context,
for example:
Serve you right can be expanded to It serves you right. In some cases, which
are ellipted are initial words or words in a sentence.
Examples:
1) (I am) sorry I couldnt be here.
2) (Ive) got to go now.
3) (You) had a good time?
4) (Its) good to see you.
5) (Are you) looking for any body?
6) (Is) Anything the matter?
7) (Does) Anybody need a lift?

4. Ellipsis in dialogue
According to Quirk et al (1973: 305-308), ellipsis in dialogue occurs in three
conditions which can occur in various combinations. The words, phrases, or sentences in the
brackets below can be omitted. The three conditions are as follows:
a. Repetition: The second speaker repeats what the first speaker said.

Examples:
A : Have you spoken to the doctor?
the doctor
spoken to
B : (Yes). I have

him
done so

A : Im studying grammar.
B : Are you (studying grammar)?
A : Hes studying Latin
B : (Hes studying) Latin! He doesnt know his own language.

b. Expansion: The second speaker adds what has been said by the first speaker.
Examples:
A : Will they lose the game?
B : Probably (they will (lose (the game))).
A : Peter will be there.
Peter
(that)

will (be there)

be

B : Are you sure

of that
A : He wont play.
B : Id like to know why

he wont (play)
not

c. Replacement: The second speaker replaces with the new material to what has been said by
the first speaker.
Examples:
A : Who told your father?
my father
told
B : Mary

did (so)

him

A : It cost me twenty-five dollars.

B : How much (did it cost (you))?
A : They want the key now.
B : No, they want

the key

tonight.

it
d. Combinations:
1) Including expansion and replacement.
Examples:
A : When did he lose the key?
the key
he
B : Probably

lost

it

did so

A : Can I help you, madam?

B : Well, Im looking for a pair of
white gloves.
2) Including repetition and replacement.
Example:
A : John told me what you did.
B : Who told you

what I did

that

3) Including repetition, expansion, expansion, and replacement.

Example:
A : They paid fifty dollars for it.
B : Oh no, they paid more

than

fifty
that

(for it)

ELLIPTICAL CONSTRUCTION EXERCISE

Instruction:Read the questions and choose the best answer!
01.Nuclear factories in Ukraine are predicted not only
dangerous to the environment but also _________ to the human population.
a. risk
b. risks
c. risky
d. to be risked
02.Human babies tend to play with small things surrounding them and _________.
a. so do cat babies
b. baby cats too
c. so do babies cats
d. cat babies do so
03.Both Iran and United States ______ susceptible to be the most
potential nuclear-weapon developer countries.
a. is
b. was
c. are
d. were
04.Neither mice nor rats ___________.
a. is living in clean places
b. are living in clean places
c. has lived in clean places
d. do not live in clean places
05.Cobra snakes do not have four-chamber heart and
rattle snakes ______ either.
a. does not
b. have not
c. do not
d. has not
06.The use of Pound sterling in international market is not really
significant and often to use ______ its value is always higher than Dollar.
a. but also
b. and
c. but
d. nor

07._________ arsenic substance found in the food eaten by John F Kennedy

or iron ore in his wine has proved to be the cause of his death.
a. Both
b. Either
c. Neither
d. Not
08.It was not Jesus ______ Paul who actually spread the Christianity
concept through over the world.
a. and
b. but
c. but also
d. or
09.Banning smoking and ________ in public places are believed
to bring many significant positive effects to the society.
a. drink alcohol
b. to drink alcohol
c. drinking alcohol
d. alcohol drinking
10. Both platinum and gold _______ very hard to find which
makes the minerals have a high trade values.
a. is
b. was
c. are
d. were
Instruction: Read the following sentences and choose the incorrect underlined part of the
sentences.
11. The students did not pay attention to the headmasters speech and the
teachers did not too.
12. Neither we nor they did not know the announcement issued yesterday.
13. We tried to save both our share and their credible in the stock market.
14. It is not truly, or some say directly, stress which causes skin problem
but also both smoke and alcohol do.
15. The employees feel disagreement to the new rules taken by the
government and so did most private companies.