C1 Ellipsis.

Ellipsis
In linguistics, ellipsis means leaving out words rather than repeating them unnecessarily;
for example, saying 'I want to go but I can't' instead of 'I want to go but I can't go'.
Do you know how to leave out words to make your English sound more natural? Test what you
know about ellipsis with interactive exercises and read the explanation to help you.
Look at these examples to see how we use ellipsis:
You can use my car whenever you want to.

[You can use my car whenever you want to use my car.]
Sounds lovely!
[That sounds lovely!]
We started watching the first episode but had to turn it off.

[We started watching the first episode but we had to turn it off.]
Try this exercise to test your grammar.
Grammar C1: Ellipsis: 1
Complete the second sentence so that it has the same meaning as the first sentence, using
ellipsis. Use one, two or three words.
8 items remaining
1.- I haven't watched the series yet, but I would like to watch it.
I haven't watched the series yet, but I would like .

2.- We spend a lot of time cooking and we spend a lot of time talking to each other.
We spend a lot of time cooking each other.
3.- We all sat down together and we came up with a plan.
We all sat down together and a plan.
4.- They could have banned cars in the city centre altogether, but they didn't want to do that.
They could have banned cars in the city centre altogether, but they didn't
5.-I haven't been to New York, but my wife has been to New York.
I haven't been to New York, but my wife .
6.- That sounds interesting!
interesting!
7.- All my friends went out on Saturday night, but I didn't go out on Saturday night.
All my friends went out on Saturday night, but
8.- Do you fancy watching a film tonight?
watching a film tonight?

Read the explanation to learn more.
Grammar explanation
In informal conversation, we commonly leave out words. This is called ellipsis.
We can use ellipsis when the meaning is obvious without the missing items.
We can use ellipsis in the following situations.
After linkers
We don't have to repeat the subject after the linkers and, but and or.
We had a late dinner and [we] went to bed.
Once the kids have left for school, I read a book or [I] do some baking.
If the repeated subject is with the verb be, we can omit both the subject
and be.
Clare is working a lot at the moment and [she's] getting up really early.
She's growing up and [she's] starting to want more alone time.
Note that ellipsis doesn't work after other linkers, such
as before, after, because, when and while.
We watch TV after we have dinner.
We watch TV after have dinner.
After to
We can often avoid repeating part of a verb phrase after to.
A: Have you tried that new restaurant yet?
B: No, I wanted to [try that new restaurant], but it's on the other side of town.
Some people give up sugar completely, but I didn't want to [give up sugar
completely].
After auxiliaries and modals

We can also avoid repeating part of a verb phrase after auxiliaries and
modals.
I hadn't noticed it, but my son had [noticed it].
She said she'd get back to me by the end of the week and she has [got back
to me by the end of the week].
They were getting ice creams because I said they could [get ice creams].
Omitting subject pronouns

Sometimes we can miss out the pronoun, because it's obvious who or what
we're talking about.
[It/That] Sounds familiar!
[It] Wouldn't have occurred to me.
Omitting subjects and auxiliary verbs

Sometimes we can miss out both the pronoun and the auxiliary verb that goes
with it. This is most common in informal questions and particularly with the
verbs want and have got.
[Do you] Want some coffee?
[Have you] Got a lot of homework?
Omitting auxiliary verbs
In other informal questions, we can leave out the auxiliary
verbs be, have and do.
[Are] You going to Gina's party?
[Have] You got a minute to talk?
[Does] She eat out every day?
[Will] You give me a ring?
Note that this doesn't work with I or it.
Have I given you an idea?
I given you an idea?
Do this exercise to test your grammar again.
1.- That must be really difficult.
be really difficult.
2.- They invited me to go to Sandra's cottage this weekend but I don't really want to go to Sandra's
cottage for the weekend.
They invited me to go to Sandra's cottage this weekend but I don't really .
3.- Do you feel like going for a walk?
like going for a walk?
4.- Ever since my friend moved to a flat in my building, we see each other and we talk nearly every.
Ever since my friend moved to a flat in my building, we see each other
nearly every day.

5.- I thought I hadn't locked the door, but then I realised I had locked the door.
I thought I hadn't locked the door, but then I realised I .
6.- I've never been to Australia, but I'd really like to go to Australia.
I've never been to Australia, but I'd really .
7.- He promised he'd send me a message, but he didn't send me a message
He promised he'd send me a message, but .
8.- Frances and I went to the coast and we had a picnic lunch on the beach.
Frances and I went to the coast and a picnic lunch on the beach.

C1 Ellipsis.

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Ellipsis

You can use my car whenever you want to.

We started watching the first episode but had to turn it off.

I haven't watched the series yet, but I would like .

We spend a lot of time cooking each other.

3.- We all sat down together and we came up with a plan.

We all sat down together and a plan.

I haven't been to New York, but my wife .

6.- That sounds interesting!

All my friends went out on Saturday night, but

8.- Do you fancy watching a film tonight?

watching a film tonight?

After auxiliaries and modals

Omitting subject pronouns

Omitting subjects and auxiliary verbs

Do this exercise to test your grammar again.

1.- That must be really difficult.

cottage for the weekend.

They invited me to go to Sandra's cottage this weekend but I don't really .

3.- Do you feel like going for a walk?

like going for a walk?

Ever since my friend moved to a flat in my building, we see each other

nearly every day.

I thought I hadn't locked the door, but then I realised I .

I've never been to Australia, but I'd really .

7.- He promised he'd send me a message, but he didn't send me a message

He promised he'd send me a message, but .

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