Lecture on Elliptical Construction

Introduction to Elliptical Construction

• Definition: Elliptical construction involves combining sentences by sharing components, typically using a subject, auxiliary verb, and the word 'too'.
• Basic Structure: Subject + Auxiliary + Too

Understanding Auxiliary

• Definition: Auxiliary verbs help to form different tenses, moods, or voices of other verbs.
• Examples:
  1. "I'm a teacher" and "She's a teacher" can combine to "I am a teacher and she is too."
  2. "You come late" and "He comes late" can combine to "He does too."

Examples of Elliptical Construction

1. Simple Past:
   • "He met Mrs. Julia. We met Mrs. Julia."
     • Combined: "He met Mrs. Julia and so did we." or "He met Mrs. Julia and we did too."
2. Present Perfect:
   • "We have finished the task. They have finished the task."
     • Combined: "We have finished the task and so have they." or "We have finished the task and they have too."
3. Modal Verbs:
   • "Moses can swim. Aaron can swim."
     • Combined: "Moses can swim and so can Aaron." or "Moses can swim and Aaron can too."
4. Present Continuous:
   • "James is studying. Dave is studying."
5. Past Perfect:
   • "She had been there. He had been there."
     • Combined: "She had been there and so had he." or "She had been there and he had too."

Negative Elliptical Construction

• Patterns:
  1. Neither + Auxiliary + Subject
  2. Subject + Auxiliary + Not + Either
• Examples:
  1. "Deborah is not lazy. Winda is not lazy."
     • Combined: "Deborah is not lazy and neither is Winda." or "Deborah is not lazy and Winda isn't either."
  2. "They don't come. We don't come."
     • Combined: "They don't come and we don't either."
  3. "She will not agree. I will not agree."
     • Combined: "She will not agree and neither will I." or "She will not agree and I won't either."
  4. "I never meet her. You never meet her."
     • Combined: "I never meet her and neither do you." or "I never meet her and you don't either."
  5. "I seldom hang out with friends. My sister seldom hangs out with friends."
     • Combined: "I seldom hang out with friends and neither did my sister." or "I seldom hang out with friends and my sister didn't either."

Practice Questions

1. Example Question: "Emily often treats me in the canteen and..."
   • Hint: Look for subject and auxiliary combinations.
2. Example Pattern: "I will never break the rules and..."
   • Combine using auxiliary: "neither will Amanda" or "Amanda won't either."

Closing

• Remember to focus on auxiliary verbs and their role in constructing elliptical sentences both in positive and negative forms.