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Phonetic reduction and ellipsis in yes-no questions

426a

Phonetic reduction of do and did may occur in informal speech:

D’you want a biscuit?

(/d
u/ = do you)

D’you get home all right last night?

(/d
u/ = did you)

Often, especially in informal spoken contexts, it is not necessary to include all the

clause elements in the question: subjects and auxiliary verbs, or lexical verb be,

may not need to be present as references will be obvious to the speaker and

listener(s):

A: You want some more bread, Nick?

B: Yes please.

(without auxiliary do)

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539 Glossary for any unfamiliar terms

Questions | 719

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[teacher, to students] 

There should be three sheets coming down. You should have three by the time

you’ve finished. Okay. 

Everybody got three sheets? 

(without auxiliary has)

Finished?

(without auxiliary have or subject you)

A: Ready?

B: Yeah, in a minute.

(without lexical verb be or subject you)

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94c Interrogatives with no auxiliary or subject

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429a on intonation and yes-no questions