At an advanced English level, it’s important to work on your fluency, and in this lesson we’re looking at a very useful way to achieve this. We’ll study a few different situations where we can omit words to increase fluency.
Have fun with the lesson, and don’t forget to try the quizzes.
– James.
Lesson Contents
Omitting verbs using auxiliaries
Our first method is to avoid repeating the verb using an auxiliary or modal to infer the verb’s intention:
Q: Is your name Sandra Smith?
A: It is. (… It is Sandra Smith)
Q: Are you the manager here?
A: I am. (… I am the manager here)
You don’t necessarily have to use this method when answering questions, you can use it in full sentences too:
She asked me to quit smoking, but I already had.
Man U won the matches, but no-one thought they would.
Is this for me? Oh! You shouldn’t have.
Be careful to consider the context of your answer before answering. You don’t simply repeat the previous auxiliary, sometimes you have to change the auxiliary if the tense of the response changes. Look at this example:
Don’t forget to lock the car.
(present simple : auxiliary = do)
I already have.
(present perfect : auxiliary = have)
Complete the sentences using an auxiliary verb or a modal verb. Make the form negative where necessary.
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- Review
- Answered
- Correct
- Incorrect
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Question 1 of 10
1. Question
I tried to repair the computer, but I ... , I didn't have the right equipment.
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Question 2 of 10
2. Question
A: You look terrible, you should see a doctor.
B: I ... , he gave me some medicine and told me to take a week off.
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Question 3 of 10
3. Question
A: Have a lovely holiday! Don't forget to take lots of pictures!
B: Don't worry, we ... .
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Question 4 of 10
4. Question
I met a girl last night, she said we'd met before but I was sure that we ... .
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Question 5 of 10
5. Question
A: Have you seen Game of Thrones?
B: No, I haven't, but I ... .
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Question 6 of 10
6. Question
The busses are on strike so ours might not come. If it ..., we'll take a taxi. My treat.
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Question 7 of 10
7. Question
Sorry, my car's being repaired at the moment so I can't give you a lift. If it ... , I would.
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Question 8 of 10
8. Question
I'm glad you told her to be quiet, if you didn't, I certainly ... .
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Question 9 of 10
9. Question
She said yes! I'm so glad she did, I honestly thought she ... .
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Question 10 of 10
10. Question
A: I think it's about time we went shopping.
B: I ... , didn't you see the stuff in the cupboard?
CorrectIncorrect
So / Neither / But / Though
We sometimes use the determiners THOUGH / NEITHER / EITHER, the conjunction BUT or the adverb SO with the above method to avoid repeating words. The word orders are as follows:
SUJ + AUX + THOUGH
(and) NEITHER + AUX + SUJ
(and) SUJ + AUX + EITHER
BUT + SUJ + AUX
(and) SO + AUX + SUJ
Mark didn’t eat dinner last night. I did though.
Daniel doesn’t like alcohol, and neither do I.
She doesn’t like meat, and I don’t either.
Sam has been to China, but I haven’t.
They enjoyed the evening and so did we.
Complete the halves of the sentences that compare you with friends of yours.
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Question 1 of 2
1. Question
Sort elements
- and so have I.
- and so do I.
- and I can't either.
- but I have.
- but I did.
-
Mark has been to China
-
Daniella loves snowboarding
-
Mark can't drive
-
Steve hasn't been to Barcelona
-
Amy didn't watch the match last night
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Question 2 of 2
2. Question
Sort elements
- and neither am I.
- I don't though.
- but I have.
- and neither do I.
- but I did.
-
Rebecca isn't married
-
Katie comes from a big family
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Carl has never seen a cricket match
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Paula doesn't smoke
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Tim didn't go out last night
CorrectIncorrect
Omitting verbs using reduced infinitives
In certain situations, you can simply say the word to instead of the verb. This method is used when the form of the complete sentences is VERB + TO + VERB.
A: Doesn’t your father drive?
B: No, he never learned to.
(learn to drive)
A: He should take his driving test.
B: Well, he doesn’t want to.
(want to take)
Answer the questions using a sentence with a reduced infinitive.
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| Pos. | Name | Entered on | Points | Result |
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- 1
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- Current
- Review
- Answered
- Correct
- Incorrect
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Question 1 of 5
1. Question
Do you want to come over for some drinks tonight?
-
great -
what a -
to -
idea, I'd -
love
View Answers:
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Question 2 of 5
2. Question
Did you send that email to the bank?
-
completely -
forgot -
to -
oh -
no! I
View Answers:
CorrectIncorrect -
-
Question 3 of 5
3. Question
I can't drive you to the bus station tonight, sorry.
-
promised -
What? -
But -
you -
to!
View Answers:
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Question 4 of 5
4. Question
Were you surprised that England won the rugby game?
-
I definitely -
didn't -
to -
expect -
them
View Answers:
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Question 5 of 5
5. Question
Why did you ignore me yesterday at the shop?
-
I'm so -
to -
sorry, I -
mean -
didn't
View Answers:
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