4/9/24

English Grammar
Spring 2024

3. Pro-forms and ellipsis

She might sing tonight, but I don’t think she will do so

fasing
pro-form
[ >

She might sing tonight, but I don’t think she will ∆

ellipsis

3. Pro-forms and ellipsis English Grammar 2

1
 4/9/24

• The full form must be recoverable.

– Textual recoverability -
> ]

recoverable from a neighboring part of the text

– Situa6onal recoverability → [ , ]

recoverable from the extra-linguisDc situaDon )

[

– Structural recoverability → 2 [ )

recoverable from knowledge of grammaDcal

structure

3. Pro-forms and ellipsis English Grammar 3

Situa6onal recoverability

Is she badly hurt? (at the scene of an accident)

Normally, pronouns are referenDally dependent

(
situational elements. [ → - )

Jane is a student. She works hard.

_

Susan is also a student. But, she doesn’t work hard.

_

3. Pro-forms and ellipsis English Grammar 4

2
 4/9/24

Structural recoverability
→

He admits (that) he prefers his mother’s cooking.

hs smbordinate clause

camphement alnuse

He wonders *(whether) Mary passed the exam.

structual y
canmot be sronitted
[ ]

[That he liked linguisDcs] was widely believed.

* [∅ he liked linguisDcs] was widely believed.

X

3. Pro-forms and ellipsis English Grammar 5

Textual recoverability

Anaphora ( ]

The connecDon between a pronoun and its antecedent.

Forward anaphora [
textual
]

antecedent à pronoun

Backward anaphora (= cataphora) ( ]

pronoun à antecedent

3. Pro-forms and ellipsis English Grammar 6

3
 4/9/24

Textual recoverability

Forward anaphora
antecedent à pronoun

The poor girl did not complain, although she was badly hurt.

3. Pro-forms and ellipsis English Grammar 7

Textual recoverability

Backward anaphora (= Cataphora)

pronoun à antecedent

Although she was badly hurt, the poor girl did not complain.

,
! . e, Itins domplhormacnunrdonaphoGeotephoral

3. Pro-forms and ellipsis English Grammar 8

4
 4/9/24

Backward anaphora and clause type

When he was in the box, the Smurf ate the cake.

* He ate the cake when the Smurf was in the box.
*S
manrfot
E X ]
.

( ex ) )

John finished breakfast before he went to school.

* He finished breakfast before John went to school.
A[er he finished breakfast, John went to school.

3. Pro-forms and ellipsis English Grammar 9

Pronouns

Pronouns are grammaDcal forms that subsDtute for an NP or for

an enDre clause.

3. Pro-forms and ellipsis English Grammar 10

10

5
 4/9/24

person number case (subject, object)

Pronouns 1st singular I me
plural we us
2nd singular you you
Personal pronouns plural you you
3rd singular he him
Indefinite pronouns
she her
Reflexive pronouns it it
Possessive pronouns plural they them

Demonstrative pronouns -self/selves some thing

any + one
Interrogative pronouns every body
Relative pronouns no

my mine
who, whom, whose, your yours
this that
which, that, etc. his his
these those
her hers
who, what, etc. its (its)
our ours
your yours
their theirs

3. Pro-forms and ellipsis English Grammar 11

11

Reflexive pronouns

Emphatic function
personex himselfusame
) He

< Same ,

I myself would never do anything like that.

I would never do anything like that myself.

3. Pro-forms and ellipsis English Grammar 12

12

6
 4/9/24

Reflexive pronouns

Reflexive verbs pride oneself [ ( )

apply oneself put : a consertealeffort I try 1 tocaes(r ]

ingraDate oneself : try to

gain sormeone s
'
fawor

adjust oneself :

behave oneself c

wash oneself
etc.

Fred prides himself on his knowledge of basketball.

He shaved himself with a rusty razor.
.

s subject ( ) = o bject [ )
e
samo
person
3. Pro-forms and ellipsis English Grammar 13

13

Reflexive pronouns

To refer to a preceding NP
A
same person 7

Johnσ1 likes himself1

* John1 likes herself1
* John1 likes himself2
-
different person

* Himself1 likes John1

* John1 thinks that Mary2 likes himself1 sbirs
pot Ssame
w '
i

Reflexive pronouns should find their antecedent in the same Ls

clause. (simplified)

3. Pro-forms and ellipsis English Grammar 14

14

7
 4/9/24

Personal pronouns

* John1 likes him1.

∞
John1 likes him2.
John1 thinks that Mary likes him1.
John1 thinks that Mary likes him2.

• Personal pronouns should not find their antecedent in the same

P
clause.

3. Pro-forms and ellipsis English Grammar 15

15

• Reflexive pronouns should find their antecedent in the same

( clause
• Personal pronouns should not find their antecedent in the same
clause.

John1 likes himself1 * John1 likes him1

* John1 likes himself2 John1 likes him2
…
* John1 thinks that Mary likes himself1 m

John1 thinks that Mary likes him1

≠
* John1’s mother saw himself1 mm

John1’s mother saw him1

3. Pro-forms and ellipsis English Grammar 16

16

8
 4/9/24

thate pro -
forms : so lonst
s
^

• so, not as pro-forms for that-clauses

"

Will Oxford win the next boat race?

I hope so. (= that Oxford will win …)
I hope not. (= that Oxford will not win …)

• Commonly used with verbs like:

believe, guess, imagine, think, suspect, suppose, expect, etc.

3. Pro-forms and ellipsis English Grammar 17

17

Ellipsis

• PosiDonal categories of ellipsis

E
– Ini6al ellipsis

{ – Medial ellipsis
,

– Final ellipsis
-9 e -
mkis

inifial (I) hope he’s there. As

Costnidantestractar

- sfructseren
and
,
Salme

medial Jim owns a Volvo and Fred (owns) a BMW.

final
I know that we haven’t yet set the record straight, but we will
(set the record straight). ' befare
mentioned
.

3. Pro-forms and ellipsis English Grammar 18

18

9
 4/9/24

Ellipsis

Recoverability: the omihed words should be recoverable.

( missing 3
reaover restoze

SituaDonal
Structural
Textual

3. Pro-forms and ellipsis English Grammar 19

19

Situa6onal ellipsis

– the interpretaDon depends on a knowledge of the

extralinguis6c context. typically elements
s
, beginaiongitm
of seatence the

– typically, situaDonal ellipsis is ini6al, especially taking the

form of omission of subject and/or auxiliary. ( Bs / Doas
1 -

estad inital
,
(*y 83 ∞

(I) told you so.

(You) want a drink, do you?
(I’m) sorry I couldn’t be there.
(Are you) in trouble?
(Do you) want some?
(Does) anybody need a li[?

3. Pro-forms and ellipsis English Grammar 20

20

10
 4/9/24

Structural ellipsis

1
medioal

– the interpretation depends on knowledge of grammatical

structure aot coantex

saboralinator
1sabordimate
clause

I believe (that) you are mistaken. [ ]

We’re staying here (for) another three weeks.

{
! :

3. Pro-forms and ellipsis English Grammar 21

21

Structural ellipsis

– Block language
( ]

headline of titke sectism

s

US heading for new slump. fhenction orsrads : -

missing but means o

cf. The US is heading for a new slump. : meaning

y Text message
"

shugrtor

3. Pro-forms and ellipsis English Grammar 22

22

11
 4/9/24

Textual ellipsis

– The interpretaDon depends on what is said or wrihen in the

linguisDc context.

Anaphoric ellipsis (= forward ellipsis)

o
Cataphoric ellipsis (= backward ellipsis)
istorevatsncdndy
I’m happy if you are ∆. (∆ = happy)
Those who prefer ∆ can stay indoors.

laitterencer
(∆ = to stay indoors)
iuts,
alle bolr

3. Pro-forms and ellipsis English Grammar 23

23

Various Ellipsis Construc6ons

NP-ellipsis
– the noun head (+ others) is omihed, leaving a determiner on
the surface.

My own camera, like Peter’s ∆, is Japanese.

He had to admit that Sarah’s drawings were as good as his ∆.
The first expediDon to the AntarcDc was quickly followed by
another two ∆.

3. Pro-forms and ellipsis English Grammar 24

24

12
 4/9/24

Various Ellipsis Constructions

NP-ellipsis
– Not all determiners can remain on the surface.

My own camera, like Peter’s ∆, is Japanese.

* I have edited a book, but I haven’t written a ∆.

* I have seen the book, but I haven’t had a chance to read
σthe ∆.

3. Pro-forms and ellipsis English Grammar 25

25

Various Ellipsis Constructions

VP ellipsis

If I could have bought a Dcket, I would have ∆. →

I’ll do what I can ∆.

Mr. Honeypie never liked pumpkins, but his wife surely did ∆.

3. Pro-forms and ellipsis English Grammar 26

26

13
 4/9/24

Various Ellipsis Construc6ons

VP ellipsis
You can borrow my pen, if you want to ∆.
You will speak to who(m)ever I tell you to ∆.
Somebody ought to help. Shall I ask Peter to ∆?
indetinitive

to can be omihed.
You can borrow my pen, if you want ∆.
You will speak to who(m)ever I tell you ∆.
Somebody ought to help. Shall I ask Peter ∆?

3. Pro-forms and ellipsis English Grammar 27

27

Various Ellipsis Construc6ons

Sluicing
subbordinating alause I main claese

Somebody has hidden my notebook,

but I don’t know who/why/where ∆.

We’re bound to win the prize some day.

Yes, but when ∆?
"
.

3. Pro-forms and ellipsis English Grammar 28

28

14
 4/9/24

Various Ellipsis Constructions

Gapping
co rolinat or
s

Randy drank scotch and Amy ∆ rum.

→
Ward can’t eat caviar and Sue ∆ beans. ]
_
Sam gave a note to Sarah and John ∆ to Sue. -
+

3. Pro-forms and ellipsis English Grammar 29

29

15