Eliptical

ELIPTICAL SENTENCES

Ellipsis or Elliptical sentences means leaving something out. Elliptical sentence is a shorter form of sentence which some words have been omitted, but it retains the same meaning. It is used so that we can avoid unnecessary repeated words.

• The ellipsis sentence could be formed if:

1. Both sentences have the same sentence elements. (Elements of the sentence; Subject, Predicate, Object / Complement)

2. Both sentences use the same tenses, the pattern of the same title. When the tenses are the same, but different patterns of the predicate, the second sentence can not be simplified by the pattern of ellipsis.

• There are 3 forms of ellipsis sentences:

1. Positive Elliptic

2. Negative Elliptic

3. Opposite Elliptic

1. Positive Elliptic.

too and so are used to combine the two sentences that have a positive and same predicate. So You should always remember that too and so are only used for positive sentences.

• The following formula:• ... (+) ..., and + Subject + Auxiliary + too • ...(+)..., and + so + Auxiliary + Subject

Positive Elliptic

and … tooDan … juga

S1  +  P1  +  O1  + (and) + S2 + modal + too

She is a college student and you are too

And so …Dan juga …

S1  +  P1  +  O1  + (and) + So + modal + S2

She is a college student and so are you

Either … orBaik … atau

Either + S1 + or + S2 + P + O   

Either she or you are college student

Both … andBaik … dan

Both + S1 + and + S2 + P + O

Both she and you are college student

Both of … Baik …

Both of + Object + P + OBoth of us are college student

2. NEGATIVE ELLIPTIC (either and neither)Either and neither are used if the two sentences are in negative forms.

Example:• I am not an artist. Maya is not an artist.

- I am not an artist and Maya isn’t either.- I am not an artist and neither is Maya.• I don’t like tea. Ronaldo doesn’t like tea.

- I don’t like tea and Ronaldo doesn’t either.- I don’t like tea and neither does Ronaldo.• Jane didn’t go to London. Debby didn’t go to London.

- Jane didn’t go to London and Debby didn’t either.- Jane didn’t go to London and neither did Debby.

• Rudi cannot speak Japanese. Susi cannot speak Japanese.- Rudi can’t speak Japanese and Susi can’t either.- Rudi can’t speak Japanese and neither can Susi.

NEGATIVE ELLIPTIC

And … not eitherDan … tidak juga

S1  +  P1  +  O1  + (and) + S2 + modal + not either

She is not a college student and you are not either

And neither …Dan tidak juga …

S1  +  P1  +  O1  + (and) + neither + modal + S2

She is not a college student and neither are you

3. OPPOSITE ELLIPTICS (but)

But is used in the two contradictory sentences. Example:• I am an artist. Maya is not an artist.

- I am an artist but Maya is not.• I don’t like tea. Ronaldo likes tea.

- I don’t like tea but Ronaldo does.• Jane went to London. Debby didn’t go to London.

- Jane went to London but Debby didn’t• Rudi cannot speak Japanese. Susi can speak Japanese.

- Rudi cannot speak Japanese but Susi can.

Opposite Elliptic

S1  +  P1  +  O1    [+]S2  +  P2  +  O2    [ - ]

S1  +  P1  +  O1  + (but) + S2 + modal + not

She is a college student but you are not

S1  +  P1  +  O1    [ -]S2  +  P2  +  O2    [+]

S1  +  P1 (negative) +  O1  + (but) + S2 + modal

She isn’t a college student but you are.

A. Combine these sentences by using ‘ so ’ or ‘neither’!

1. Ali has a pair of shoes. Rina has a pair of shoes.

2. The soldiers shoot the bird every morning. The policemen shoot the bird every morning.

3. I am never absent here. He is never absent here.

4. They read the newspaper this morning. She read the newspaper this morning.

5. We rarely speak English in class. They rarely speak English in class.

6. The cat didn’t eat the mouse. The dog didn’t eat the mouse.

7. Superman doesn’t help the old woman. Batman doesn’t help the old woman.

8. You must go home. We must go home.

9. Last year, Rindi seldom visited me. Last year, Rano seldom visited me.

10. I have told you why she cried. He has told you why she cried.

B. Combine these sentences by using ‘ too ’ or ‘either’!

1. Rena is always happy. I am always happy.

2. The old man hardly walks on the street. The old women hardly walk on the street.

3. The tiger will run after you. The lion will run after you.

4. I don’t like him. The monkey doesn’t like him.

5. He often says that he hates me. They often say that he hates me.

6. Rihana won’t sing in my birthday party. Ariel won’t sing in my birthday party.

7. They are looking at the view. She is looking at the view.

8. I put many books in my cupboard. My sister put many books in her cupboard.

9. I knew where they live. We knew where they live.

10.I’ll never believe that you are bad. They’ll never believe that you are bad.

C. Fill in the blanks by using so, too, either and neither!1. The cat likes staying in my house and ………….. the mice.2. We aren’t listening to the music. The children …………3. My brother should study hard. I ……………4. Swimming needs a good stamina. ……………. running.5. The man who always comes to my house gives me money. The fishermen…6. Her mother doesn’t work in a company. …………..their mothers.7. Jenifer may dance whatever dance that she wants. ………….. I.8. The ant never likes salt. The flies ……….9. They pretend to be some doctors. We ……….10. Ronaldo, Roberto, Ronaldinho and Rooney weren’t farmers. ……… You.

Change the following sentences into elliptical ones!

They were at the stationI was at the station

He didn’t come yesterdayI didn’t come yesterday

She didn’t play with himI played with him

I can speak English wellYou can not speak English well

Summary

Three steps before using elliptical sentences:1. Identify the tenses used2. Identify the predicate used (auxiliary verb, Modal

and to be)3. Decide whether using positive (too/ so) and negative

elliptical words( neither/ either)

Elliptical patternA. Positive1. …….. And Subj2 + predicate + too2. …….. And So + predicate + Subj2

B. Negative3. ………. And Subj2 + predicate (not) + either4. ………. And Neither + predicate + Subj2

C. Opposite Elliptical

1. Positive sentence but subj2 + Predicate (Negative)

2. Negative sentence but subj2 + Predicate (positive)

They have not understood elliptical sentence.Ade has understood elliptical sentence.