Скачать или смотреть Everyday Grammar TV: Elliptical Structures

Faith: Hi John! I have a tough question for you.

John: Hi Faith! I’m ready for the question.

Faith: There is an important part of grammar that is common in writing and everyday speech. But unlike many other subjects in grammar, this subject is defined by what is not expressed.

What is this mysterious subject?

Faith: Don’t think too hard, John. I’ll tell you: elliptical structures.

John: Right! Elliptical structures are a result of something being left out – often part of the predicate. Let’s give an example!

John: Imagine you are watching an American television show. You hear the following:

VOICE 1: Who is going to cook dinner?

VOICE 2: I will.

Faith VOICEOVER: In this case, the modal “will” appeared without a main verb. The complete statement is “I will cook dinner.” The words “cook dinner” are understood between the speakers. This is a kind of elliptical structure.

John: There are a few different kinds of elliptical structures. They involve a noun, verb, or verb phrase being left out.

Faith: In a noun ellipsis, a noun is left out. In a verb ellipsis, a verb is left out. And in a verb phrase ellipsis, a verb phrase is left out.

John: You learned about an example of a verb phrase ellipsis – our example about dinner. The verb phrase “cook dinner” was not expressed. All that remained were the words “I will.”

Faith: And that’s Everyday Grammar TV