Ellipsis & Substitution Exercises

About Ellipsis Substitution exercises

Ellipsis leaves out words that the listener can already work out. Substitution replaces them with a short word such as so or not. Both help you avoid repetition in speech and writing. Exercises at C2 level fall into two groups, verb-phrase ellipsis and so/not substitution, and use multiple choice and gap fill.

In verb-phrase ellipsis, an auxiliary verb stays behind and the rest of the verb phrase disappears: She can swim, and I can too. I have not finished, but Tom has. After a to-infinitive, the word to stays: I did not go, but I wanted to. Short answers use so, neither and nor with the auxiliary before the subject: So do I. Neither did she. Substitution with so and not replaces a whole clause: I think so. I am afraid not. The exercises also cover if so and if not, as in If so, please call me. The auxiliary must match the first clause: I have not finished, but Tom has, and I did not finish, but Tom did.

• Leaving a stranded auxiliary (Tom has)
• So, neither and nor with the auxiliary before the subject
• Too and not either at the end of a clause
• Keeping to after want, try and hope
• Ellipsis after modal verbs
• So and not as substitutes: I think so, I am afraid not, if so, if not