Chapter XCVI: Elliptical Sentences

=374.= We have noted several constructions in which there is an ellipsis, or omission of some word or words necessary to the grammatical structure of the sentence.

(1) The subject of an imperative sentence, the pronoun _you_, _thou_, or _ye_ is usually omitted; as, “(_You_) Honor the flag.”

(2) A noun is often omitted after a possessive modifier; as, “Let us go over to Baker’s (_house_) this evening.”

(3) An auxiliary verb is often omitted; as, “Somebody has entered the hall and (_has_) taken my umbrella.”

(4) The predicate is often omitted in a clause of comparison; as, “I am not so tired as you (_are_ or _are tired_).” “He has no better right than I (_have_ or _have right_).”

(5) The relative pronoun _that_ is often omitted in an adjective clause; as, “The ring (_that_) you gave me is too small.”

(6) The subordinate conjunction _that_ is often omitted in a noun clause; as, “You said (_that_) I might take your skates.”

=375.= The elliptical sentence is very common, especially in conversation, where we do not have to depend entirely upon words to convey our meaning, as we have the help of emphasis, tone of voice, and gesture. It follows that in oral language we leave out many words that can easily be supplied by our listeners.

(1) In answering questions, we seldom make complete statements, as,—

What is your name? (_My name is_) Donald.

Whose boy are you? (_I am_) Mr. Hill’s (_boy_).

Where do you live? (_I live_) On Jackson Street.

(2) We often omit a word that has already been expressed in the sentence; as, “Our first maid was an Irish girl; our second (_maid was_) a Norwegian (_girl_).”

(3) In sentences beginning with _no wonder_ or _no matter_ we omit the main verb and the anticipative subject _it_.

“No wonder he died,” means “It is no wonder that he died.”

“No matter what I said,” means “It is no matter what I said.”

(4) Two very common questions are _What of it?_ and _What if I do?_ We may expand the first question thus, “What (_will come_) of it?” and the second thus, “What (_difference will it make_) if I do?”

(5) In adverbial clauses we find many cases of ellipsis, but the words omitted can readily be supplied; as,—

I lived on the south side when (_I was_) a child.

I cut my finger while (_I was_) paring an apple.

She sings as if (_she were singing_) by note.

I will be there if (_it is_) possible.

Though (_we were_) tired and hungry we plodded on.

I will go (_though it_) rain or (_though it_) shine.

=Exercise.=—Analyze the following sentences, supplying the words omitted wherever there is an ellipsis.

1. Wisdom is better than rubies.

2. A song to the oak, the brave old oak!

3. The sun shall not smite thee by day nor the moon by night.

4. She will close the house and go to her son’s.

5. Cæsar had his Brutus; Charles the First his Cromwell.

6. It is more blessed to give than to receive.

7. And then to breakfast with what appetite you have.

8. To-day he puts forth the tender leaves of hope; to-morrow
blossoms.

9. Love’s wing moults when caged and captured.

10. He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he
that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.

11. Few and short were the prayers we said.

12. All the world’s a stage and all the men and women merely
players.

13.

Stone walls do not a prison make,
Nor iron bars a cage.

14. Though mild, Calvin was also intolerant.

15.

Happy the man whose wish and care
A few paternal acres bound.

16. Drink to me only with thine eyes.

17.

True hope is swift and flies with swallow’s wings,
Kings it makes gods and meaner creatures, kings.

18. My true love hath my heart, and I have his.

19.

Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime.

20. What if the river is too deep for the cattle to ford?

21.

If all the year were playing holidays
To sport would be as tedious as to work.

22. My kingdom for a horse!

23.

No matter what the daisies say,
I know I’ll be married some fine day.

24. Blessings on thee, little man!

25.

Six white eggs on a bed of hay,
Flecked with purple, a pretty sight.

26.

“Lady Moon, Lady Moon, where are you roving?”
“Over the sea.”

27. The wind has a language, I would I could learn.