Substitution and Ellipses Powerpoint for C1
- 2. Get to the Point! ● Substitution is the replacement of a word or phrase with a “filler word” to avoid repetition when we are speaking or writing. ● Ellipses help you remove English words or phrases to sound more fluent when speaking. ● Both of these devices help us speak and write fluently. ● We are moving away from the formal, fancy English and into the realm of how Bridget uses the language.
- 3. SUBSTITUTION OF A NOUN OR NOUN PHRASE ● Use ONE/ONES to replace a countable noun after an adjective or demonstrative ○ I’d like a dirty martini and John would like a dry one. ● We don’t use ONE for uncountable nouns. Instead, use nothing or a pronoun like “it”. ○ I like strong coffee, but she prefers (it) mild. ○ I bought some furniture. Some of it was expensive.
- 4. SUBSTITUTION OF A NOUN OR NOUN PHRASE ● We can also use the demonstrative pronouns without ONE/ONES. ○ I’ll take this, not that. ■ Talking about two known options. ○ Do you what these, or those? ■ Pointing to shoes on a shelf for instance. ● We can also substitute nouns with quantifiers such as: some, all, each, none, either, neither, both, a few…. ○ All the pupils did the exam, but only some passed. ○ I took the dogs for a walk, but neither went potty.
- 5. SUBSTITUTION OF A VERB OR VERB PHRASE WITH DO ● We can use a form of do to avoid repeating a present or past simple verb. ○ They live very close to where I do. ● We can also use it to avoid repeating the main verb in coordinate clauses. ○ Mark phoned the police and I did too. ○ Mark phoned the police, and so did I.
- 6. SUBSTITUTION OF A VERB OR VERB PHRASE WITH DO ● With coordinate clauses where the action is the same in both, we can also use so/neither + auxiliary + subject. Agreement Patterns ● Affirmative: So + auxiliary + subject → So did I. ● Negative: Neither/Nor + auxiliary + subject → Neither did I. ● Informal: Me too / Me neither / Nor me Example: ● I love coffee. → So do I. ● I didn’t go to the meeting. → Neither did I.
- 7. SUBSTITUTION OF A VERB OR VERB PHRASE WITH DO ● In informal speech, we can omit do and use the object pronoun with too, neither, nor. ○ I didn’t watch TV last night. ○ Me neither/ nor me ● Using a form of do is common in comparison clauses. ● Men don’t work in the garden as often as women do.
- 8. SUBSTITUTION OF A VERB OR VERB PHRASE WITH DO SO/IT/THAT ● We can use the three patterns to replace a verb phrase which describes a single, specific action. (so is more formal) ○ do so → formal, refers to an action ○ do it / do that → neutral or informal, refers to a specific action ○ Mary stood up to leave, and just as she was doing so, she slipped and fell. ● We usually use do it/that when the subject of the verb changes. ○ The shop assistant couldn’t get hold of the shoplifter.Were the police able to do it/that? ○ do it → common and neutral ○ do it / do that → slightly more formal/empathetic
- 9. SUBSTITUTION OF A VERB OR VERB PHRASE WITH DO SO/IT/THAT ● We prefer to use do so when we talk about an activity rather than a single, specific action. ○ People would like to smoke in public places but they are banned from doing so. ○ People would like to smoke…but they are banned from it. ■ More informal ● We use only do alone (not “do so”) for mental or uncontrollable actions. ○ He told her not to forget his phone number but she did.
- 10. SUBSTITUTION OF A CLAUSE ● We can use verbs like expect/think/believe/imagine with so to avoid repeating the preceding information. These verbs express assumptions or beliefs, and “so” substitutes the entire clause. ○ Will they be coming to our party? ○ I believe so. ● To express a negative idea, we usually make the verb negative and still use “so”. ○ Will they be coming to our party? ○ I don’t think so.
- 11. SUBSTITUTION OF A CLAUSE ● Some verbs, however, use only not: be afraid, guess, hope, suppose. ○ Will they be coming to our party? ■ I guess not. ■ I hope not. ■ I’m afraid not. ● We substitute if clauses with if so, and if not. ○ They will find the restaurant easily; if not, they can always ask a passerby. ○ They still may be at the station; if so, we’ll wait there.
- 12. SUBSTITUTION OF A CLAUSE ● We can use so at the beginning of a short answer when we agree to a statement with a certain amount of surprise. ● Used more in British English (sounds a bit more formal). ○ I won the jackpot in the lottery! ○ So you did!
- 13. ELLIPSIS: OMITTING A NOUN/PRONOUN ● We often omit nouns or pronouns in the second of two coordinate clauses. ○ I went to the bar and (I) asked for a beer. ● This only works in coordinated clauses with the same subject. In subordinate clauses, the pronoun cannot be omitted. ○ I went to the bar and (I) asked for a beer because I was thirsty.
- 14. ELLIPSIS: OMITTING A VERB ● We can omit a verb to avoid repeating it. ○ Coffee appeals to young people and tea to the elderly. ● The verb “appeals” is removed in the second clause to avoid repetition. ● We don’t usually eliminate auxiliary verbs or modals, because they carry an important meaning. ○ Was it a good idea to buy that flat? ○ I think I shouldn’t. ○ I think I shouldn’t have. ○ Both imply that “I shouldn’t have bought it”, the verb “buy” is omitted.
- 15. ELLIPSIS: OMITTING A VERB ● We can introduce a new modal in order to add interpretation. ○ Has the boss arrived? ○ It’s ten o’clock. He must have. ○ “He must have” = He must have arrived → Verb phrase is implied, not repeated. ● If the comparison clause begins with a pronoun and we omit the verb phrase, we use the object pronoun rather than the subject pronoun. ○ You certainly are more intelligent than she is. ○ In spoken/informal English, “than her” is often widely accepted.
- 16. ELLIPSIS: OMITTING INFINITIVES OR WH- CLAUSES ● We can omit an infinitive phrase when the meaning is clear. ○ Although Mary has tried hard to stop smoking, she hasn’t been able to. ○ Full: …she hasn’t been able to stop smoking. ○ “to” stands for to stop smoking. ● After certain verbs like “forget”, “ask”, and “promise” we can omit the full infinitive if it’s understood. ○ Did you buy the presents? ○ I forgot (to).
- 17. ELLIPSIS: OMITTING INFINITIVES OR WH- CLAUSES ● After want and would like in if or wh- clause we can also omit to. ○ Leave the stuff wherever you want (to). ○ Let me know if you’d like (to). ■ (=if you’d like to help, join, participate, etc)
- 18. Fill In The Blanks Complete the sentences using substitution or ellipsis: 1. She wanted to apply for the promotion, and I wanted ___ too. 2. I didn't call him last night. ___ did I. 3. Did they enjoy the conference? I think ___. 4. I believe he forgot the meeting invite. Yes, he probably ___. 5. They discussed the new schedule, and we ___ as well.