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

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539 Glossary for any unfamiliar terms

From utterance to discourse | 185

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The same applies to initial pronoun subject that in conventional responses such as

that’s true

, that’s correct, that’s good:

A: I’m sure Tony doesn’t get much sleep.

B: True.

A: So, how are you doing?

B: I’m all right.

A: Good.

Existential there

94h

Initial existential there (and its accompanying verb be) may be considered

unnecessary:

Must have been half a million people.

(understood: There must have been half a million people.)

Nobody at home, by the look of it.

[talking about the activities of mysterious neighbours]

Yeah, they do seem to be dragging stuff about. It’s really weird. 

Seems to be

more stuff come out than gone in.

Verb ellipsis in directives

94i

Occasionally the verb may be understood in a directive:

[teacher to pupils]

Hands up.

(understood: Put your hands up.)

Everyone 

into the garden. We want to take a photo.

(understood: Everyone come/go into the garden.)

[airport public announcement]

Mr Ken Wilson 

to airport information please.

(understood: Will Mr Ken Wilson go to airport information please.)