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Auxiliary verbs - ellipsis
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FormGeneral usage
When the first part contains an auxiliary...
When the first part does not contain an auxiliary...
When the main verb is be
Resource index for Auxiliary verbs - ellipsis
Form
full statement + linker + shortened statement with auxiliary
General usage
Examples
I 'm not going to the party but Mandy is.
She thought she 'd locked the door but she hadn't.
In the examples above, the auxiliaries are used to make the sentences shorter. If we didn't use auxiliaries in this way we would have to repeat some words.
I'm not going to the party but Mandy is going to the party.
She thought she 'd locked the door but she hadn't locked the door.
I'm not going to the party but Mandy is going there.
She thought she 'd locked the door but she hadn't locked it.
When the first part contains an auxiliary...
When the first part of the sentence - the part we don't want to repeat - contains an auxiliary, we use that auxiliary in the second part. Auxiliary verb have
I have never been to Australia but Donna has. Auxiliary verb did
I didn't see the film but the others did.
I have never been to Australia but Donna has.
I didn't see the film but the others did.
When the first part does not contain an auxiliary...
When the first part of the sentence - the part we don't want to repeat - does not contain an auxiliary (e.g. when we use present simple or past simple), we use do / does (present simple) and did (past simple) in the second part. Present simple
I like action movies but my brother doesn't. Past simple
I went to the party but Sarah didn't.
I like action movies but my brother doesn't.
I went to the party but Sarah didn't.
When the main verb is be
When the main verb is be, we can also avoid repetition in this way.
'Were you at the meeting yesterday?'
'I wasn't but Sandy was.'
'Were you at the meeting yesterday?'
'I wasn't but Sandy was.'