第十四章 替代与省略  内容提要： ◆替代 ◆省略

替代  Substitution is a grammatical device for avoiding repetition and achieving textual cohesion. There are three kinds of substitution: nominal substitution, verbal substitution, and clausal substitution, and therefore three kinds of substitutes: nominal substitutes, verbal substitutes, and clausal substitutes.

Nominal substitution  1) What is nominal substitution  Nominal substitution means the replacement of a noun or a noun phrase by a nominal substitute, eg.  He doesn't like this book. Show him a more interesting one.  If you want a typewriter, they will provide you with one.  There are good films as well as bad ones.

 Nominal substitutes include such items as one, ones, the same, the kind, the sort, eg.  Slang disappears quickly, especially the juvenile sort.  Nominal substitutes also include some indefinite pronouns, such as all, both, some, any, enough, several, none, many, much, (a) few, ( a ) little, the other, others, another, either, neither, etc, eg.  Can you get me some nails? I need some.  I don't want any more food. I've had enough.

Verbal substitution  1) What is verbal substitution  Verbal substitution means the replacement of a verb element by a verbal substitute do or do so. eg.  A- We all hate hypocrisy.  B. Yes, everybody does. (does = hates hypocrisy)  It may also be the main verb alone, eg.  A: Have they moved the furniture?  B. They have done {, = moved) the desks, but that's all so far.

Clausal substitution  Whereas the substitutes discussed previously only replace parts of phrases or clauses, so and not may substitute for complete clauses.  1) What is clausal substitution  Clausal substitution means the replacement of a clause by a clausal substitute--so or not, eg:  A. Do you think he'll come tomorrow?  B: Yes, I think so.  No, I think not.

省略  Substitution vs. Ellipsis  Ellipsis in coordinate constructions  Ellipsis in complex sentences  Ellipsis in adverbial clauses

Substitution vs. Ellipsis  Like substitution, ellipsis is also a grammatical device for avoiding repetition and achieving textual cohesion. If substitution is the replacement of an identical item by a substitute, ellipsis means omission of the item or replacement of the item by a zero substitute. As ellipsis and substitution perform the same function, they are, in many cases, interchangeable, eg:  A. Which do you prefer, the red or the green scarf?  B: I'd like the red (scarf).  I'd like the red one.

Ellipsis in coordinate constructions  Ellipsis is most frequently found in coordinate constructions in compound sentences, coordinate noun phrases, and coordinate prepositional phrases.  1) Ellipsis in compound sentences  2) Ellipsis in noun phrases  If two coordinate noun phrases in the form of "determiner +premodifier + noun" are identical in headwords, it is normal for one of the headwords to be ellipted. What, then, remains of the elliptical noun phrase will only be "determiner + premodifier".

Ellipsis in complex sentences  Ellipsis in complex sentences  In complex sentences, ellipsis commonly occurs in subordinate clauses, while in main clauses only the initial elements are likely to be ellipted.  In informal style, the initial elements of some utterances are often omitted. This kind of ellipsis is independent of the context, and therefore is called "situational ellipsis", eg.  (I'm) Sorry I've kept you waiting so long.  (It is) No / Small wonder they all loved the boy dearly.

Ellipsis in adverbial clauses  Adverbial clauses generally admit of end deletion when they occur after the main clause, eg: ,John will play the guitar if Mary will (play the guitar).  When two coordinate adverbial clauses are introduced by identical subordinators, the subordinator of the second clause can be left out, eg.  If I can find the letter and (if) you are interested in it, I'll let you have it.