Cambridge Grammar of English Hardback with cd-rom a comprehensive Guide

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94 Situational ellipsis for further examples and discussion of ellipsis

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539 Glossary for any unfamiliar terms

Grammar across turns and sentences | 247

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SUBSTITUTION

130

General

130a

When substitution occurs, a substitute form is used instead of repeating a word,

phrase or clause which occurs elsewhere in the text. In the following extracts,

substitute forms are marked in bold:

Mrs Smith had been able to tell her what no one else could have 

done.

(done = told her)

A: Matthew, have you counted the plates? 

B: There are twenty two. 

A: Twenty two. 

C: Oh my. 

A: Oh there’s still some underneath there. Can you get those out. 

B: Twenty two yeah. I did check. 

A: There should be a few little ones around. 

D: They’re big ones, aren’t they?

C: There’s some big ones over there, Pauline.

(ones in each case is understood as substituting for ‘plates’.)

A: I’ll see you in the morning before I go home.

B: Well, I hope so.

(understood: Well, I hope you’ll see me/we’ll see each other.)

Substitution may be anaphoric (referring back) or cataphoric (referring forward)

in the text. Cataphoric substitution is considerably less frequent than anaphoric,

and is usually only found across clause boundaries rather than sentence

boundaries:

● Anaphoric:

A modem

is the equivalent of a phone for your PC. You’ll need 

one if you want

to use email or connect to the net.

● Cataphoric:

If you’re ever looking for 

one, there’s 

a screwdriver

in that drawer.

A–Z

60 One