Grammar / C1 Grammar lessons and exercises / Ellipsis
Ellipsis means leaving out words when the meaning is already clear. It is especially common in informal spoken English and helps us avoid unnecessary repetition.
You can use my car whenever you want to.
Sounds lovely!
We started watching the first episode but had to turn it off.
We don't have to repeat the subject after and, but or or.
We had a late dinner and went to bed.
= We had a late dinner and we went to bed.
I read a book or do some baking.
If the repeated subject is used with the verb be, we can omit both the subject and the form of be.
Clare is working a lot and getting up really early.
= Clare is working a lot and she is getting up really early.
She's growing up and starting to want more alone time.
This kind of ellipsis does not normally work after linkers such as before, after, because, when and while.
✅ We watch TV after we have dinner.
❌ We watch TV after have dinner.
We can avoid repeating part of a verb phrase after to.
A: Have you tried that new restaurant?
B: No, I wanted to, but it's on the other side of town.
= I wanted to try that new restaurant.
Some people give up sugar completely, but I didn't want to.
We can also avoid repeating part of a verb phrase after an auxiliary or modal verb.
I hadn't noticed it, but my son had.
She said she'd get back to me and she has.
They were getting ice creams because I said they could.
Sometimes we leave out a subject pronoun because it is obvious who or what we are talking about.
Sounds familiar!
= It / That sounds familiar!
Wouldn't have occurred to me.
= It wouldn't have occurred to me.
In informal questions, we can sometimes omit both the subject and its auxiliary verb.
Want some coffee?
= Do you want some coffee?
Got a lot of homework?
= Have you got a lot of homework?
In other informal questions, we can omit auxiliary verbs such as be, have and do.
You going to Gina's party?
= Are you going to Gina's party?
You got a minute to talk?
= Have you got a minute to talk?
She eat out every day?
= Does she eat out every day?
This informal omission does not work with every auxiliary, and it does not normally work when the subject is I or it.
✅ Have I given you an idea?
❌ I given you an idea?
❌ You give me a ring? (for "Will you ...?")
| Situation | Full form | Ellipsis |
|---|---|---|
| after and/but/or | and we went | and went |
| after to | wanted to try it | wanted to |
| after modal | said they could go | said they could |
| informal question | Do you want ...? | Want ...? |
Don't repeat information when the listener can clearly understand it.
After to and auxiliaries, the rest of the verb phrase can often disappear.
Informal questions often omit subjects and auxiliaries.
But ellipsis is not possible everywhere, so check the structure carefully.