7

1. ELIPTICAL
SENTENCES

2. Ellipsis or Elliptical sentences means leaving something out.
Elliptical sentence is a shorter form of sentence which some
words have been omitted, but it retains the same meaning. It is
used so that we can avoid unnecessary repeated words.

3. • The ellipsis sentence could be formed if:
1. Both sentences have the same sentence elements. (Elements of
the sentence; Subject, Predicate, Object / Complement)
2. Both sentences use the same tenses, the pattern of the same title.
When the tenses are the same, but different patterns of the
predicate, the second sentence can not be simplified by the pattern
of ellipsis.

4. • There are 3 forms of ellipsis sentences:
1. Positive Elliptic
2. Negative Elliptic
3. Opposite Elliptic

5. 1. Positive Elliptic.
too and so are used to combine the two sentences that have a positive and
same predicate. So You should always remember that too and so are only
used for positive sentences.
• The following formula:
• ... (+) ..., and + Subject + Auxiliary + too
• ...(+)..., and + so + Auxiliary + Subject

6. Positive Elliptic
and … too
Dan … juga
S1 + P1 + O1 + (and) +
S2 + modal + too
She is a college
student and you are
too
And so …
Dan juga …
S1 + P1 + O1 + (and) +
So + modal + S2
She is a college
student and so are
you
Either … or
Baik … atau
Either + S1 + or + S2 + P +
O
Either she or you are
college student
Both … and
Baik … dan
Both + S1 + and + S2 + P
+ O
Both she and you are
college student
Both of …
Baik …
Both of + Object + P + O
Both of us are college
student

7. 2. NEGATIVE ELLIPTIC (either and neither)
Either and neither are used if the two sentences are in negative forms.
Example:
• I am not an artist. Maya is not an artist.
- I am not an artist and Maya isn’t either.
- I am not an artist and neither is Maya.
• I don’t like tea. Ronaldo doesn’t like tea.
- I don’t like tea and Ronaldo doesn’t either.
- I don’t like tea and neither does Ronaldo.
• Jane didn’t go to London. Debby didn’t go to London.
- Jane didn’t go to London and Debby didn’t either.
- Jane didn’t go to London and neither did Debby.

8. • Rudi cannot speak Japanese. Susi cannot speak Japanese.
- Rudi can’t speak Japanese and Susi can’t either.
- Rudi can’t speak Japanese and neither can Susi.

9. NEGATIVE ELLIPTIC
And … not either
Dan … tidak juga
S1 + P1 + O1 +
(and) + S2 + modal
+ not either
She is not a college
student and you are
not either
And neither …
Dan tidak juga …
S1 + P1 + O1 +
(and) + neither +
modal + S2
She is not a college
student and neither
are you

10. 3. OPPOSITE ELLIPTICS (but)
But is used in the two contradictory sentences.
Example:
• I am an artist. Maya is not an artist.
- I am an artist but Maya is not.
• I don’t like tea. Ronaldo likes tea.
- I don’t like tea but Ronaldo does.
• Jane went to London. Debby didn’t go to London.
- Jane went to London but Debby didn’t
• Rudi cannot speak Japanese. Susi can speak Japanese.
- Rudi cannot speak Japanese but Susi can.

11. Opposite Elliptic
S1 + P1 + O1 [+]
S2 + P2 + O2 [ - ]
S1 + P1 + O1 +
(but) + S2 + modal
+ not
She is a college
student but you are
not
S1 + P1 + O1 [ -]
S2 + P2 + O2 [+]
S1 + P1 (negative)
+ O1 + (but) + S2 +
modal
She isn’t a college
student but you are.

12. A. Combine these sentences by using ‘ so ’ or ‘neither’!
1. Ali has a pair of shoes. Rina has a pair of shoes.
2. The soldiers shoot the bird every morning. The policemen shoot
the bird every morning.
3. I am never absent here. He is never absent here.
4. They read the newspaper this morning. She read the newspaper
this morning.
5. We rarely speak English in class. They rarely speak English in class.

13. 6. The cat didn’t eat the mouse. The dog didn’t eat the mouse.
7. Superman doesn’t help the old woman. Batman doesn’t help the
old woman.
8. You must go home. We must go home.
9. Last year, Rindi seldom visited me. Last year, Rano seldom visited
me.
10. I have told you why she cried. He has told you why she cried.

14. B. Combine these sentences by using ‘ too ’ or ‘either’!
1. Rena is always happy. I am always happy.
2. The old man hardly walks on the street. The old women hardly
walk on the street.
3. The tiger will run after you. The lion will run after you.
4. I don’t like him. The monkey doesn’t like him.
5. He often says that he hates me. They often say that he hates me.

15. 6. Rihana won’t sing in my birthday party. Ariel won’t sing in my
birthday party.
7. They are looking at the view. She is looking at the view.
8. I put many books in my cupboard. My sister put many books in
her cupboard.
9. I knew where they live. We knew where they live.
10.I’ll never believe that you are bad. They’ll never believe that you
are bad.

16. C. Fill in the blanks by using so, too, either and neither!
1. The cat likes staying in my house and ………….. the mice.
2. We aren’t listening to the music. The children …………
3. My brother should study hard. I ……………
4. Swimming needs a good stamina. ……………. running.
5. The man who always comes to my house gives me money. The fishermen…
6. Her mother doesn’t work in a company. …………..their mothers.
7. Jenifer may dance whatever dance that she wants. ………….. I.
8. The ant never likes salt. The flies ……….
9. They pretend to be some doctors. We ……….
10. Ronaldo, Roberto, Ronaldinho and Rooney weren’t farmers. ……… You.

17. Change the following sentences into elliptical ones!
They were at the
station
I was at the station
He didn’t come
yesterday
I didn’t come
yesterday
She didn’t play with
him
I played with him
I can speak English
well
You can not speak
English well

18. Summary
Three steps before using elliptical sentences:
1. Identify the tenses used
2. Identify the predicate used (auxiliary verb, Modal
and to be)
3. Decide whether using positive (too/ so) and negative
elliptical words
( neither/ either)

19. Elliptical pattern
A. Positive
1. …….. And Subj2 + predicate + too
2. …….. And So + predicate + Subj2
B. Negative
1. ………. And Subj2 + predicate (not) + either
2. ………. And Neither + predicate + Subj2

20. C. Opposite Elliptical
1. Positive sentence but subj2 + Predicate (Negative)
2. Negative sentence but subj2 + Predicate (positive)

21. They have not understood elliptical sentence.
Ade has understood elliptical sentence.