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

TEXTUAL ELLIPSIS (YES I DID.)

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Textual ellipsis refers to items which are normally treated as required by the

grammar to complete the meaning but which are not present because they can be

recovered by a listener or reader from the preceding or following text. 

Verbs, especially the verb be (as copular or auxiliary verb), modal verbs, and do

and have as auxiliary verbs, are regular triggers for ellipsis of complements and

linked lexical verbs:

A: I think you’re right to find out more before you decide.

B: I know I am.

(understood: I know I am right to find out …)

A: Can you hear that noise?

B: Yes, I think I can. What is it?

(understood: I think I can hear that noise.)

A: Did you ring Jeff?

B: No I didn’t. Sorry, I forgot.

She used to heap food onto his plate so as he’d get fat. But he never 

did.

An auxiliary or modal verb, or copular verb be, often make repetition of a lexical

verb unnecessary when contrasting subjects (in green in the examples) are

present:

But I still don’t see how 

you

can help me, or how 

anybody

can. 

He

was a football fan. 

I

was as well.

Sometimes a contrast in tense/modality/polarity can prompt ellipsis:

The idea of sending her into a mental home is dreadful and we know that it

would

do her no good

. There is only one thing that 

will. That is the only chance

for her, if she could be with you. 

(understood: There is only one thing that will do her good.)

I feel that if you 

can

help somebody

you 

should.