Ellipsis in noun phrases

Ellipsis after adjectives ,please

A repeated noun can sometimes be dropped after an adjective, if the meaning is clear, especially when one is talking about common kinds of choice.

• ‘What kind of potatoes would you like?’ ‘Boiled (potatoes), please.’
• We haven’t got any brown sugar. Only white (sugar).

This often happens after superlatives.

• I think I’ll buy the cheapest.

note

For other structures in which adjectives are used without nouns, (see here).

Ellipsis after this, numbers, possessives, etc

Nouns can also be dropped after most determiners ( Determiners: a/an and the; my, your, etc; this, that, etc, Determiners: quantifiers), if the meaning is clear.

• This is Ella’s coat, and that (coat) is mine.

This also happens after numbers, nouns with possessive ’s, own and (an)other.

• I’m not sure how many packets I need, but I’ll take two (packets) to start with.
• Our train’s the second (train) from this platform.
• You take Dan’s car, and I’ll take Susie’s (car).
• ‘Can I borrow your pen?’ ‘No, find your own (pen).’
• ‘That beer went down fast.’ ‘Have another (beer).’

Well-known names

The last words of well-known names are often dropped.

• She’s playing the Beethoven with the Scottish National tomorrow night. (= … the Beethoven violin concerto with the Scottish National Orchestra …)
• He’s staying at the Hilton. (= … the Hilton Hotel.)
• We’re going to see ‘Hamlet’ at the Mermaid. (= … the Mermaid Theatre.)

When we talk about people’s homes, and about shops and offices, possessives are often used without following nouns.

• We spent the weekend at Jack and Emily’s.
• Could you pick up some chops from the butcher’s?
• I’m going to call in at the doctor’s on the way home.

Other situations

Note that nouns are not normally dropped in other situations.

• Poor little boy! (not Poor little!)
• The most important thing is to keep calm. (not The most important is to …)