Lecture 18 Substitution and Ellipsis 1. substitution 2. ellipsis

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Lecture 18 Substitution and Ellipsis 1.
substitution2. ellipsis
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• 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.

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Substitution

• Substitution consists of replacing one word or
  phrase with another.
• 1.1 nominal substitution
• 1.2 verbal substitution
• 1.3 clausal substitution

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• 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 dont
  want any more food. Ive had enough.

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• 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 didnt 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.

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• 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? Id like a big one.Your car
  isnt fast enough. Lets take his new one.
• I prefer red roses to white ones, but my wife
  likes both.
• If theres any difficulty about cars, we can
  bring our own.

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• Uses of one/ ones as substitutes
• Compare
• I need this dictionary, but I cant afford that.
• I need this dictionary, but I cant afford it. I
  need a good dictionary, but I cant 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.

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• Judy broke the coffee-pot, so she has to buy
  another (one).Some of your answers were correct,
  but I cant remember which (ones).
• I prefer the large bottle to the small (one).
• One should be careful in talking to ones
  colleagues.
• Youre a right one, losing tickets again.

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• 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 thats all so far.
• A Does Peter speak French?B Yes, he does (
  speaks French).No, he doesnt (speak French).

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• 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 dont you just lie to him?
• B Oh, I couldnt lie to him.
• Anyone wishing to interrupt with questions
  should feel free to interrupt with questions.

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• 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.

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• Mary works hard. Sally works hard too.
• I didnt have enough money. My husband didnt
  have enough money either.
• AI 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.

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• 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 hell 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 wont be any
  meeting tomorrow.
• A Are the girls coming to the party?B Im sure
  they are / Im 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 didnt stop him.B Why not?

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• 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)
• _______.

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• 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 Id like the red (scarf). Id like
  the red one.

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• Lucy went up to the bar and she asked for a
  coffee.
• We were totally exhausted but we felt satisfied
  with our days 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.

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Types of ellipsis

• 1. nominal ellipsis
• 2. verbal ellipsis
• 3. clausal ellipsis

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2.1 nominal ellipsis the head word is left out.

• There are four flights to New York today. Lets
  take the earliest.
• Why give me two cups of coffee?
• I only asked for one.

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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.

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• 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.

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• Ellipsis
• Especially common in dialogue
• Resulting in incomplete sentences

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• 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.

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• In complex sentences, ellipsis commonly occurs
  in subordinate clauses, while in main clauses
  only the initial elements are likely to be
  ellipted.
• (Im) Sorry Ive 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, Ill 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.

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• 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 dont know when (I shall meet him) and where I
  shall meet him.

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• 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 wont
  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.

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• 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.