Ellipsis (Omitting Words)

Leaving out words to avoid repetition: I can swim and she can too → I can swim and she can

advanced

When to Use

•After auxiliaries: 'Can you swim?' 'Yes, I can.' (not 'Yes, I can swim.')
•After 'to': I'd like to help, but I'm not able to. (omit 'help')
•In comparisons: She's taller than I am. (omit 'tall')
•With 'so' and 'not': 'Is it raining?' 'I think so.' / 'I hope not.'
•In parallel structures: I like tea and she (likes) coffee.

How to Form

Affirmative (+)

Keep auxiliary/to; omit main verb and following words

Negative (-)

Same principle with negative auxiliary

Question (?)

Same principle

💡 Ellipsis makes speech more natural and avoids awkward repetition.

Examples

✓'Will you come?' 'I might.'

✗'Will you come?' 'I might come.'

Omit repeated verb after modal.

✓I wanted to call, but I forgot to.

✗I wanted to call, but I forgot to call.

Keep 'to', omit verb.

✓'Is it true?' 'I believe so.'

✗'Is it true?' 'I believe it is true.'

Use 'so' to replace clause.

Common Mistakes

💡 Practice Tips

• After modals: 'I can' (not 'I can do it').
• After 'to': 'I'd like to' (not 'I'd like to go').
• Think so / hope so / believe so: replace whole clause.
• Think not / hope not / believe not: negative replacement.

substitution so-neither-responses short-answers 📝 emphasis-advanced 📝 ellipsis-quiz

Ellipsis (Omitting Words)

Leaving out words to avoid repetition: I can swim and she can too → I can swim and she can

advanced

When to Use

•After auxiliaries: 'Can you swim?' 'Yes, I can.' (not 'Yes, I can swim.')
•After 'to': I'd like to help, but I'm not able to. (omit 'help')
•In comparisons: She's taller than I am. (omit 'tall')
•With 'so' and 'not': 'Is it raining?' 'I think so.' / 'I hope not.'
•In parallel structures: I like tea and she (likes) coffee.

How to Form

Affirmative (+)

Keep auxiliary/to; omit main verb and following words

Negative (-)

Same principle with negative auxiliary

Question (?)

Same principle

💡 Ellipsis makes speech more natural and avoids awkward repetition.

Examples

✓'Will you come?' 'I might.'

✗'Will you come?' 'I might come.'

Omit repeated verb after modal.

✓I wanted to call, but I forgot to.

✗I wanted to call, but I forgot to call.

Keep 'to', omit verb.

✓'Is it true?' 'I believe so.'

✗'Is it true?' 'I believe it is true.'

Use 'so' to replace clause.

Common Mistakes

💡 Practice Tips

• After modals: 'I can' (not 'I can do it').
• After 'to': 'I'd like to' (not 'I'd like to go').
• Think so / hope so / believe so: replace whole clause.
• Think not / hope not / believe not: negative replacement.

substitution so-neither-responses short-answers 📝 emphasis-advanced 📝 ellipsis-quiz

Ellipsis (Omitting Words)

When to Use

How to Form

Examples

Common Mistakes

💡 Practice Tips

Related

Ellipsis (Omitting Words)

When to Use

How to Form

Examples

Common Mistakes

💡 Practice Tips

Related

When to Use

How to Form

Examples

Common Mistakes

✗'Can you help?' 'Yes, I can help.'

✗I hope it not.

✗She's smarter than I.

💡 Practice Tips

Related

When to Use

How to Form

Examples

Common Mistakes

✗'Can you help?' 'Yes, I can help.'

✗I hope it not.

✗She's smarter than I.

💡 Practice Tips

Related