‘The Train to Oxford’ by Scott Thornbury—a conversation between two people
A: Um cigarette
B: Kids
A: When
B: Thanks
A: One you
B: One
A: Oxford
B: Three
A: Fine Oh Oxford
B: Yes you
A: Erm dinner
B: Already
A: Um that’s right
student
B: When
A: Tomorrow
A: Tonight
B: Tomorrow
B: Ah busy tomorrow
A: Oh
A: Lunch
B: Yes
B: OK where
A: Name
A: Um Browns
B: Sarah
B: Browns
A: Andrew
B: Nurse you
A: Unemployed
B: Long
A: A year er married
B: Divorced
A: Really me too
A:
This is nice weather that we are having, isn’t it? __________________________
B:
Yes, the weather sure is nice.
A:
Do you come to this park often?
B:
Yes, I come here every day.
A:
That’s a nice dog that you have there.
B:
Thank you.
A:
What’s its name?
B:
His name is Rocky.
A:
What breed of dog is he?
B:
He is a German Shepherd.
A:
Is your dog friendly?
B:
Yes, he is friendly.
A:
Well, it’s been nice talking to you.
B:
Yes, it’s been nice talking to you, too.
A:
Maybe I’ll see you next time.
B:
Yes, I hope we’ll meet again.
Ellipsis/Substitution Practice
A. Write the shortened form of each.
1. A: They’ve all left.
B: No, Jack hasn’t left yet.
2. You didn’t get hurt, but you might have gotten hurt.
B: No, I’m going to do the dishes now.
3. A: Have you done the dishes?
4. You must earn more or you must spend less.
5. He told us to shut up, but we said we wouldn’t shut up
B. 1. I’ve never been to New Zealand but one day I ______.
a.
will
b.
have
2. A: ‘Is he coming with us?’
a.
hope doesn’t
‘ll do
c.
b.
B: ‘I ______. I don’t really like him.’
hope no
c.
hope not
3. I know I said I would go with you, but I won’t ____.
a.
be able to do
b.
be able so
c.
be able to
C. 1. I’ve never been to Australia, but I’d _______.
2. She didn’t remember to take the rubbish out, and _________ .
3. If you are not willing to take the risk, I’m sure Sam __________.
4. I’ve brought cookies. Do you want ______ ?
5. We can win this game, but in order to , we need to believe in ourselves.
6.A: ‘Are you going to Warsaw for your holiday?’
not sure.’
B: ‘We ______ but we’re still
D. 1. Don’t use those napkins, use the ________ we bought in Prague.
2. I told you to wash the dishes yesterday and you _________ , so wash them now.
3. A: Are you going to the lake this weekend?
B: I don’t think _________ .
4. A: Are you going to the lake this weekend?
B: I don’t think I ________ .
5. A: My car is being repaired.
B: _______ is mine; we’ll have to take the bus.
6. I told Peter to tell the truth, but he decided not _________ .
7. She was supposed to visit them, but she _______ .
8. I won’t pass the selection process and _______ will you.
9. I wanted to travel to Japan this summer, but I can’t afford ________ .
10. A: Will she be at the reception?
B: I’m ________ not.
Ellipsis
Repeated subject or subject + auxiliary verb
After and, but, and or we can leave out a repeated subject or a subject + auxiliary
verb.



He closed the door and took off his shoes.
We could go out or have a party at home.
She called but didn’t leave a message.
Repeated verb phrase or adjective after the same auxiliary
We can avoid repeating an adjective, a verb or verb phrase and repeat only the
auxiliary or modal verb.



Maria should take the exam, but I don’t think you should .
She’ll go to the meeting but I won’t .
They say he is the best right now, but I don’t think he is .
Use do/does/did in the second clause or sentence when the verb is present or past
simple.


She doesn’t like it, but I do.
She liked it, but I didn’t.
Repeated verb phrase after a different auxiliary
We can also omit a repeated verb phrase when we use a different auxiliary or modal
verb.


I’m studying for the exams, but not as much as I should .
I told you I’d help you, but I can’t .
In the second clause or sentence we may need to leave two auxiliaries to express past
meaning.


She didn’t win, but she could have .
‘Did you go?’ ‘No, but I should have .’
Repeated verb phrase after the infinitive with to (reduced infinitive)
A reduced infinitive is when you leave out a repeated verb phrase after an infinitive
with to.


I shouldn’t go out tonight, but I really want to .
‘Are you going to sell the car?’ ‘No, I‘ve decided not to . ‘
Substitution
one, ones
We can use one to avoid repeating a singular countable noun, and we can use ones to
avoid repeating a plural noun.




‘Do you need a pen?’ ‘No, I’ve already got one.’
‘Which car do you prefer?’ ‘I like the red one.’
Are you going to wear these trousers or the ones that I gave you?
I’d lend you a pen, but this is the only one I have.
do so
We can use do so (or does so, did so, doing so, etc.) to avoid repeating a verb phrase.


If I can help, I’ll be happy to do so. (=to help)
I won’t apologise, because doing so would be admitting that I was
wrong. (=apologising)
We can also use do it/that (more informal) instead of do so.

They told me to be quiet and I did it/that/so.
if so, if not
We can use if so/if that is so (positive) or if not (negative) to avoid repeating a clause
in a conditional sentence.


Do you want to be better at what you do? If so, pay attention to what I have to
say. (=If you want to be better at what you do)
Mr Chen should be there when you arrive. If not, just give me a call. (=If Mr Chen
isn’t there when you arrive)
Using so and not as substitutes for clauses
We use so after certain verbs of thinking and speaking to avoid repeating a positive
clause. This use is common with the verbs assume, believe, expect, guess, hope,
imagine, presume, suppose, suspect, say, tell sb, think and the expressions be
afraid and it seems/appears.



‘Are they coming?’ ‘I think so.’ (=they are coming)
‘I didn’t do it.’ ‘If you say so.’ (=that you didn’t do it)
‘Is she going to be there?’ ‘I hope so.’ (=she’s going to be there)
When we want to avoid repeating a negative clause, we can use a positive verb +
not or a negative verb + so. We can use either of those forms with the verbs appear,
seem, suppose.

‘Did they leave a copy of the key?’ ‘It doesn’t seem so/It seems not.’
We normally use a positive verb + not with be afraid, assume, guess, hope, presume,
suspect.

‘Shall we go for a run tomorrow?’ ‘I’m afraid not. I have to be at the office all day.’
We normally use a negative verb + so with believe, expect, imagine, think.

‘Will it take long to fix it?’ ‘I don’t think so.’
so, neither
We can use so and neither + auxiliary + subject to avoid repeating a clause when we
are agreeing with someone.


‘I can be there at any time tomorrow.’ ‘So can I.’ (=I can be there at any time
tomorrow too.)
‘I shouldn’t take the offer, and neither should you.’ (=and you shouldn’t take the offer
either.)
If there is no auxiliary verb in the first clause or sentence, we use do/does or did.


‘I love this book.’ ‘So do I.’
‘We arrived on time, and so did all the other guests.’