Lecture 16 Substitution and Ellipsis

1. substitution2. ellipsis

• grammatical devices for avoiding repetition and achieving textual cohesion

• In speech or writing

• Substitution: the replacement of an identical item by a substitute

• Ellipsis: the omission of the item or replacement of the item by a zero substitute (leaving out)

• Mary left at about the same time as Jane left.

• Mary left at about the same time as Jane did.

• Mary left at about the same time as Jane.

1. Substitution

• Substitution consists of replacing one word or phrase with another.

• 1.1 nominal substitution

• 1.2 verbal substitution

• 1.3 clausal substitution

1. Nominal substitution

• If you want a typewriter, they will provide you with one.• Nominal substitutes include such items as one, ones, the

same, the kind, the sort, and some indefinite pronouns, such as all, both, some, any enough, several, none, many, much, (a) few, (a) little, the other, others, another, either, neither, etc.

• Slang disappears quickly, especially the juvenile sort.• Can you get me some nails? I need some.

I don’t want any more food. I’ve had enough.

• The best skiing is not found at big resorts but at small resorts.

• The boys went out night after night and some of the boys didn’t return.

• It is possible to respect both your opinions and the opinions of other people.

• Chinese food is not the same as the French food.

• Uses of one/ ones as substitutes• a. to replace a count noun or a countable noun phrase, for

personal as well as non-personal reference, eg:• The new design is much better than the old one.

There were a few young people with some old ones in the house.

• ? I really like sweet sherry but my husband prefer dry one.

• b. Determiner + a pre modifier + one• Can I have a melon? I’d like a big one.

Your car isn’t fast enough. Let’s take his new one.• I prefer red roses to white ones, but my wife likes both. • If there’s any difficulty about cars, we can bring our own.

• Uses of one/ ones as substitutes• Compare:• I need this dictionary, but I can’t afford that.• I need this dictionary, but I can’t afford it.

I need a good dictionary, but I can’t afford one. (generic reference)

• The weather is hotter here than ___ in Dalian.• Your answer to the question is better than ___ of hers.• He likes this coat better than the ___ you showed him

before.

• d. ones can only replace the headword of a noun phrase, and therefore is always preceded by “determiner + pre modifier”, eg:

• I have a new dictionary and several old ones.

• Judy broke the coffee-pot, so she has to buy another (one).Some of your answers were correct, but I can’t remember which (ones).

• I prefer the large bottle to the small (one).

One should be careful in talking to one’s colleagues.

You’re a right one, losing tickets again.

• Verbal substitution: the replacement of a verb element by a verbal substitute- do or do so.

• A: We all hate hypocrisy.B: Yes, everybody does. (does = hates hypocrisy)

• A: Have they moved the furniture?B: They have done (=moved) the desks, but that’s all so far.

• A: Does Peter speak French?B: Yes, he does (= speaks French).No, he doesn’t (speak French).

• At the time, they lived very near to where I lived.

• Mary sent him a text message and I sent him a text message too.

• Dad never learnt to speak any other languages and Mum never learnt to speak any other languages either.

• A: Why don’t you just lie to him?

• B: Oh, I couldn’t lie to him.

• Anyone wishing to interrupt with questions should feel free to interrupt with questions.

• Uses of verbal substitutes• Substitute do can also combine with so to

form two patterns of short-response: “So + do + subject” and “So + subject + do”, eg:

• A: I like playing football.B: So do I.So does my brother.So did my father.Negative form: neither/nor do + subject

• A : The students all work hard.B: So they do.

• Mary works hard. Sally works hard too.

• I didn’t have enough money. My husband didn’t have enough money either.

• A:I saw Jane yesterday.

• B: _____.

• She told me not to forget the cake in the oven, but I forgot the cake in the oven.

• He promised to learned me some money, and he lent it.

1.3 Clausal substitution: the replacement of a clause by a clausal substitute- so or not, representing a belief, an assumption or an emotion with a tone of uncertainty or tentativeness. eg:

• A: Do you think he’ll come tomorrow?B: Yes, I think so.No, I think not.

• They say he will come tonight. If so, the meeting will be held tomorrow. If not, there won’t be any meeting tomorrow.

• A: Are the girls coming to the party?B: I’m sure they are / I’m sure of it. I doubt if they are / I doubt it.

• A: Is your brother going with you?B: Perhaps not / Possibly not / Surely not.

• A: I didn’t stop him.B: Why not?

• Is it going to rain?

• ________.

• Will they soon get married? (doubt)

• ________.

• Will they be able to arrive in time? (seem)

• ________.

• I wonder if the Brazilians will win the championship in the world cup. (sure)

• _______.

• 2. Ellipsis

• Ellipsis means omission of the item or replacement of the item by a zero substitute.

• a grammatical device for avoiding repetition and achieving textual cohesion

• A: Which do you prefer, the red or the green scarf?B: I’d like the red (scarf). I’d like the red one.

• Lucy went up to the bar and she asked for a coffee.

• We were totally exhausted but we felt satisfied with our day’s work.

• Some books are to be tasted, others are to be swallowed, and some few are to be chewed and digested.

• George will take the course and Bob may take the course.

Types of ellipsis

• 1. nominal ellipsis

• 2. verbal ellipsis

• 3. clausal ellipsis

2.1 nominal ellipsis: the head word is left out.

• There are four flights to New York today. Let’s take the earliest.

• Why give me two cups of coffee?

• I only asked for one.

2.2 verbal ellipsis: omission of the main verb, the auxiliary or even the whole phrase.

• Have you seen him before?

• Yes, I have.

• What have you been doing in the garden?

• Whitewashing the fence.

• Who else is coming to the party?

• Peter.

• 2.3 Clausal ellipsis: omission of the whole clause.

• Are you felling well?

• Yes.

• He promised to be here on time.

• Yes, I know.

• I finished the task ahead of time.

• How?

• Will it rain tomorrow?

• Perhaps.

• Ellipsis:

• Especially common in dialogue

• Resulting in incomplete sentences

• Ellipsis is most frequently found in coordinate constructions-in compound sentences, coordinate noun phrase, and coordinate prepositional phrase.

• Mary washed the dishes, Mary dried them and Mary put them in the cupboard.

• John was the winner in 1989, and Bob was the winner in 1990.

• John will meet my family tonight and John will meet my family again tomorrow.

• This is his latest book; I hope it is not his last book.• Revolution means a moral change as well as a material

change.• A government of the exploiting class, and by the exploiting

class, and for the exploiting class cannot possibly survive.

• In complex sentences, ellipsis commonly occurs in subordinate clauses, while in main clauses only the initial elements are likely to be ellipted.

• (I’m) Sorry I’ve kept you waiting so long.• (It is) No/ Small wonder they all loved the boy dearly. • John will play the guitar if Mary will (pay the guitar).• If I can find the letter and (if) you are interested in it, I’ll let

you have it.• I am prepared to meet them when (they like) and where they

like.• They will be arriving before the show begins or after (the

show begins).• While (I was) waiting, I was reading some old magazines.

• A: Will it rain today?

• B: I hope (that it will) not (rain).

• Tell him that I will call to see him and (that I will) have lunch with him.

• The cup was broken by someone, but I wonder by whom (the cup was broken).

• I noticed how Mary talked to them and (how) they answered her.

• I don’t know when (I shall meet him) and where I shall meet him.

• I am happy if you are happy.• Chinese food has to be served in small pieces, it has to be

picked up little by little with chopsticks, and it has to be eaten slowly.

• Fat is used for cooking in northern Europe, but oil is used for cooking in China.

• The young animal is playing a game which can be very dangerous and often is very dangerous.

• Jane is dusting the furniture because Bob won’t dust it.• He remained a great lover of sport, as he had been a great

lover of sport in his youth.• Although he was told to sop, John kept on working till late

at night. • The relationship between two countries is essentially good,

even if it has been progressing slowly.

• Advice is like snow: the softer it falls, the longer it will dwell upon, and the deeper it will be sinking into the mind.

• He is neither interested nor concerned about the problem.

• The students must learn to read extensively, to analyze what he reads and summarize the main points presented.

• Mr. li has been away for a week because very ill.