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Ellipsis after auxiliary verbs

Auxiliary instead of complete verb phrase​

We can avoid repetition by using an auxiliary verb instead of a complete verb phrase, if the meaning is clear. The auxiliary verb usually has a ‘strong’ pronunciation (see here), and contractions (see here) are not normally used except in negatives.

  • ‘Get up.’ ‘I am /æm/.’ (= I am getting up.)
  • He said he’d write, but he hasn’t. (= … hasn’t written.)
  • I’ll come and see you when I can. (= … can come and see you.)
  • ‘Shall I tell him what I think?’ ‘I wouldn’t if I were you.’

Do can be used before ellipsis if there is no other auxiliary to repeat.

  • I may come to London. I’ll phone you if I do.
  • He said he would arrive before seven, and he did.

Other words, as well as the rest of the verb phrase, can be left out after the auxiliary.

  • I can’t see you today, but I can tomorrow. (= … I can see you …)
  • ‘I’ve forgotten the address.’ ‘I have too.’
  • ‘You’re not trying very hard.’ ‘I am.’
  • ‘You wouldn’t have won if I hadn’t helped you.’ ‘Yes, I would (have).’

This also happens after non-auxiliary be and have.

  • ‘I’m tired.’ ‘I am too.’
  • ‘Who’s the driver?’ ‘I am.’
  • ‘Who has a dictionary?’ ‘I have.’

Short answers, etc: Yes, I have​

Ellipsis is used regularly in short answers (see here), reply questions (see here) and question tags ( (see here).

  • ‘Have you finished?’ ‘Yes, I have.’
  • ‘I can whistle through my fingers.’ ‘Can you, dear?’
  • You don’t want to buy a car, do you?

so am I, etc​

Ellipsis also happens after so, neither and nor (see here). Note the word order.

  • ‘I’ve forgotten the address.’ ‘So have I.’
  • She doesn’t like olives, and neither do I.

Ellipsis before complete form: If you can, call me …​

Ellipsis normally happens when an expression is used for a second time, after the complete form has already been used once (see above examples). However, it can sometimes happen the other way round. This is common in sentences beginning with if.

  • If you can, call me when you arrive.
  • If you could, I’d like you to help me this evening.
  • If you prefer, we can go tomorrow instead.

More than one auxiliary: I could have been.​

When there is more than one auxiliary, ellipsis usually happens after the first.

  • ‘You wouldn’t have enjoyed the film.’ ‘Yes, I would.’ (= … I would have enjoyed the film.)

However, more auxiliaries can be included. The first is stressed.

  • ‘Could you have been dreaming?’ ‘I suppose I could / COULD have / COULD have been.’

We often include a second auxiliary verb if it has not appeared before in the same form.

  • ‘I think Emily should be told.’ ‘She has been.’ (More natural than … She has.)

And we normally include a second auxiliary verb after a change of modal auxiliary.

  • ‘Emily should be told.’ ‘She must be.’ (More natural than … She must.)

Substitution with do: He might do.​

In British English, a main verb that is left out after an auxiliary can be replaced by do. For details, (see here).

  • ‘Do you think he’ll phone?’ ‘He might do.’ (AmE … He might.)
note

For do so, (see here).