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Advanced English Grammar Masterclass (C1-C2)

English Grammar

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Text lesson

Ellipsis

✂️ MASTERING ELLIPSIS IN ENGLISH

🎯 Level: Intermediate / Intermédiaire

Learn how to make your English sound more natural by omitting words when the meaning is clear.

Apprenez à rendre votre anglais plus naturel en omettant des mots lorsque le sens est clair.

1 What is Ellipsis?

📌 Ellipsis is when we leave out words in informal conversation because the meaning is obvious without them.

L’ellipse, c’est lorsque nous omettons des mots dans une conversation informelle car le sens est évident sans eux.

✓ Sounds lovely! [That sounds lovely!]

→ Ça a l’air adorable !

✓ We started watching but had to turn it off.

→ Nous avons commencé à regarder mais nous avons dû l’éteindre.

2 After Linkers (and, but, or)

📌 We can omit the subject after and, but, and or.

Nous pouvons omettre le sujet après “and”, “but” et “or”.

With Ellipsis Full Form French
We had dinner and went to bed. We had dinner and we went to bed. Nous avons dîné et sommes allés nous coucher.
She’s growing up and starting to want more time. She’s growing up and she’s starting to want more time. Elle grandit et commence à vouloir plus de temps.

⚠️ Important: Ellipsis doesn’t work after other linkers like because, when, before.

Important : L’ellipse ne fonctionne pas après d’autres connecteurs comme “because”, “when”, “before”.

We watch TV after have dinner. → ✓ We watch TV after we have dinner.

3 After “to” (Avoiding Repetition)

✓ A: Have you tried that restaurant?
   B: No, I wanted to, but it’s far.

→ Non, je voulais [le faire], mais c’est loin.

✓ Some people give up sugar, but I didn’t want to.

→ Certaines personnes arrêtent le sucre, mais je ne voulais pas [le faire].

4 After Auxiliaries & Modals

✓ I hadn’t noticed, but my son had.

→ Je ne l’avais pas remarqué, mais mon fils, si.

✓ They were getting ice creams because I said they could.

→ Ils prenaient des glaces parce que j’avais dit qu’ils pouvaient [le faire].

5 Omitting Subject Pronouns

Sounds familiar!

→ Ça me dit quelque chose !

Wouldn’t have occurred to me.

→ Ça ne me serait jamais venu à l’esprit.

6 Ellipsis in Informal Questions

📌 In very informal speech, we can omit subjects and auxiliary verbs in questions.

Dans un discours très informel, nous pouvons omettre les sujets et auxiliaires dans les questions.

Informal (with ellipsis) Full Question French
Want some coffee? Do you want some coffee? Tu veux un café ?
You going to the party? Are you going to the party? Tu vas à la fête ?
She eat out every day? Does she eat out every day? Elle mange au restaurant tous les jours ?

⚠️ This doesn’t work with I or it!

Ça ne fonctionne pas avec “I” ou “it” !

I given you an idea? → ✓ Have I given you an idea?