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Ellipsis and substitution: so, not, do so, one
C1 C1 grammar · lesson 8 of 16
Fluent speakers avoid repeating words. Learn how to replace or leave out words with so, not, do so and one, so your English sounds natural and smooth.
Substitution: replacing words
Substitution means using a short word instead of repeating a longer part of the sentence.
One / ones for nouns
Use one (singular) and ones (plural) to replace a countable noun. Do not use them for uncountable nouns.
I don’t like this jacket. Can I see the blue one?
These apples are sweeter than the ones we bought last week.
So and not for clauses
After think, hope, expect, suppose, believe, be afraid, guess, use so for a positive clause and not for a negative one.
| Question | Positive | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| Will it rain? | I think so. / I hope so. | I hope not. / I don’t think so. |
| Is he coming? | I believe so. | I’m afraid not. / I suppose not. |
Do / do so for actions
Use do (informal) or do so (more formal) to replace a verb phrase.
Tom said he would fix the light, and he did.
Passengers may leave their bags here, but those who do so are responsible for them.
Mia speaks French and so does her brother.
Ellipsis: leaving words out
Ellipsis means leaving out words that are clear from context.
- After auxiliaries and modals: “Can you swim?” “Yes, I can.” / I haven’t finished yet, but Ali has.
- After to (the verb is dropped): “Would you like to come?” “I’d love to.”
- In coordinated clauses: Omar washed and (Omar) dried the dishes.
- In comparisons: She runs faster than I do.
I wanted to call her, but I forgot to.
“Have you ever been to Peru?” “No, but I’d like to.”
Ken can’t play the piano, but his wife can.
Common mistakes
✗ I don’t hope so.
✓ I hope not.
✗ I prefer the red shoes to the black.
✓ I prefer the red shoes to the black ones.
✗ Would you like more milk? – Yes, a small one.
✓ Yes, a little, please. (milk is uncountable)
✗ “Are you coming?” “I’d like.”
✓ “Are you coming?” “I’d like to.”