Language/English/Grammar/Legitimate-Ellipsis-and-False-Ellipsis
Sometimes, people make statements like “The employees should and have lunched”. That sentence is actually wrong. The sentence is meant to be a combination of the two sentences below:
- The employees should have lunched.
- The employees have lunched.
However, in combining the sentences, one important word was omitted. The correct sentence is:
- The employees should have and have eaten.
However, study the sentences below.
- The actress auditioned for this part.
- The actress waited for this part.
Joining these two sentences gives two correct forms listed below:
- The actress auditioned for and waited for this part.
- The actress auditioned and waited for this part.
Definitions[edit | edit source]
Having understood the concept of omission, we must establish the definition of false ellipsis and legitimate ellipsis. Legitimate ellipsis occurs when words that are already implied in a sentence are omitted. False ellipsis on the other hand occurs when an essential word is omitted and therefore the sentence is not clear.
Examples of False Ellipsis[edit | edit source]
The first of every pair of the following sentences is wrong while the second is correct.
- Children are as loyal, if not more loyal than adults.
- Children are as loyal as, if not more loyal than adults.
- The employees are excited and committed to the new project.
- The employees are excited about and committed to the new project.
- She has and never will waste her money.
- She has never and will never waste her money.
Summary[edit | edit source]
This lesson treats the proper procedure for omission, false ellipsis and legitimate ellipsis.
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- REFLEXIVE PRONOUNS
- Negations
- Comparison of Adjectives
- CONJUNCTIONS → Cause and Effect
- CONJUNCTIONS → Contrast
- RELATIVE PRONOUNS
- Gender
- Although VS Even though
- Prepositions
- Possible Positions of Adverbs in a Sentence