大象传媒

In informal, spoken English we often leave out words when it's easy to understand what's being said without them. For example, Tim said "Be out in a minute" rather than the fuller, more formal "I will be out in a minute". He also said "Just coming" rather than "I'm just coming".

Here are some more examples of when we often leave out words (this is called 'ellipsis'):

The words after 'as' and 'than' are often dropped if the meaning is clear:

There are as many girls as boys here. = There are as many girls as there are boys here.

She can speak more languages than you. = She can speak more languages than you can speak.

Unstressed words are often dropped at the beginning of sentences:

A: Fancy a coffee? = Do you fancy a coffee?
B: Would love a cup of tea. = I would love a cup of tea.

Got the time please? = Have you got the time please?

1. You can use 'to' rather than repeating the full infinitive:

I don't eat sweets now but I used to when I was young. = I don't eat sweets now but I used to eat sweets when I was young.

I broke the vase. I didn't mean to. It just slipped. = I broke the vase. I didn't mean to break the vase. It just slipped.

2. Sometimes you can drop the infinitive and the 'to' as well:

Eat as much as you want. = Eat as much as you want to eat.

Can you open this window? I think it's stuck. I'll try. = I'll try to open the window.

You can sometimes drop nouns after adjectives:

A: What kind of rice would you like?
B: Boiled. = Boiled rice.

If you don't have any brown bread, white will do. = If you don't have any brown bread, white bread will do.

Repeated words are often dropped in structures which use 'and', but' and 'or:

You look different. And smell different too. = You look different. And you smell different too.

She's a firm but fair boss. = She's a firm but she's a fair boss.

Have you got a pen or pencil please? = Have you got a pen or have you got a pencil please?