Ellipsis

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.]

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

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

to each other.

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

a plan.

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

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

That sounds interesting!

interesting!

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

Do you fancy watching a film tonight?

watching a film tonight?

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.

That must be really difficult.

be really difficult.

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

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 and we talk nearly every day.
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 had locked the door.
I thought I hadn't locked the door, but then I realised I

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

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

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.

- Hey, I’ve noticed that Max sometimes just stares at me when I’m on a call. It’s not like he’s barking or whining, just… staring. Is that normal?

- О, звичайно. Собаки постійно читають нашу мову тіла. Іноді цей пильний погляд означає: «Гей, у тебе все гаразд?» Вони дивовижно чутливі навіть до найменших

змін у тоні голосу чи поставі.

- Really? I always thought he was just being needy or trying to get my attention.

-Це теж можливо, але насправді відбувається набагато більше.

Собаки помічають мікровирази обличчя і тонкі ознаки стресу, які люди часто не помічають.

Навіть якщо ви цього не усвідомлюєте, вони можуть зрозуміти, коли вам некомфортно поруч із кимось.

- Wait, so he knows when I’m uncomfortable? Just like that?

-Так. Наприклад, якщо ти напружена або вагаєшся при знайомстві з новою людиною,

твоя собака відчує це майже миттєво.

Тому деякі собаки реагують оборонно ще до того, як ти скажеш слово.

- That’s crazy. I mean, I’ve always joked that he’s like my tiny therapist, but now it makes sense.

So, does that mean I can actually train him to help me relax too?

- Саме так! Це називається «соціальне посилання». Ти заспокоюєшся — він заспокоюється.

Собаки віддзеркалюють наш емоційний стан більше, ніж більшість людей здогадується. І навпаки теж працює — якщо ти стресуєш, він це відчуває.

Huh. So my chill attitude can literally teach him to chill too.

That’s amazing. But what about when he brings me random stuff, like his toy or my socks?

- Це часто їхній спосіб поділитися увагою або перевірити — «Гей, що ти робиш?

Можу я допомогти?» Це форма комунікації, так само як і його погляд. Думай про це як про те, що він слідкує за динамікою у домі.

- Wow. So all these little weird behaviors actually mean something.

I always thought he was just… quirky.

- О, вони дійсно дивні! Але у кожної дивності є своя мета. Ретельне спостереження — найкращий спосіб зрозуміти їхній емоційний світ. Ти побачиш, коли почнеш звертати увагу, Макс теж багато чого навчить тебе про себе