CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background
As a human being, when we want to express our ideas, feelings, and thought, we can
use language for sure. It consists of various rules which are different from other language.
These rules can be applied either in formal or informal occasion depending on the
speakers or writers intention. They need to be applied in sentences or constructions. One
of them which is usually used in everyday communication is elliptical sentence or
construction. It is a kind of sentence in which the speaker deletes the item or items from
the sentence itself. Actually ellipsis can be seen from the structure, the place, and the
kind.
However, when we want to delete, we have to pay attention to the rule which stated
above. The rule is based on both linguistics and non linguistics context. Here is one
example of ellipsis based on linguistics context: After learning English, I am able to
speak it fluently. After learning English can be made into complete form: After I
learned English or after I have learned English. We will discuss further about this topic
through this paper.

1.2 Research Questions

The questions of this paper are as follows.
1. What is the meaning of elliptical ?
2. How does the structure of elliptical ?
3. How does the placement of elliptical ?
4. How many kinds of elliptical ?

1.3 Research Purpose

The purpose of this paper is as follows.
1. Students are able to understand the elliptical meaning.
2. Students are able to understand the structure of elliptical.
3. Students are able to understand the placement, and kinds of elliptical.

1.4 Advantages
1. For authors, can add insight about elliptical, elliptical meaning, structure of elliptical,
the placement, and kinds elliptical.
2. For readers, can make the source in the manufacture of paper and add insight about
elliptical, elliptical meaning, structure of elliptical, the placement, and kinds elliptical.

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 CHAPTER II
DISCUSSION

2.1 Elliptical

There are some definitions about what is elliptic sentence or contruction. An elliptical
clause (a form of elliptical construction) is a clause in which some words have been omitted.
(www. Ensiclopedia.com). In the grammar of a sentence, an elliptic construction is a
construction that lacks an element, but, recoverable or inferable from the context. The
elliptical construction is a sequence of words in which some words have been omitted.
Because of the logic or pattern of the entire sentence, it is easy to infer what the missing
words are.

An elliptical sentence does not mean a sentence with an ellipsis in it. An ellipsis is
three periods, symbolizing missing information. This form most often appears when using
only part of a direct quote. An elliptical sentence refers to sentences with information
missing. This form does not require an ellipsis. These sentences are grammatically correct

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only if the necessary information to understand the sentence has been supplied previously or
is clear from the context of the sentence.

Actually elliptical constructions is not only using in writing but its also often be used
in dialogue to shorten what is being said.

For Example :
1. Tony : I want to go home, and you ?
Rony : me too.

2. Ria : I like ice cream very much.

Yuni : so do I.

3. X : My uncle went to Bandung last week.

Y: So did my father

4. Riri : I had bought a new motorcycle last year.

Yuyun : I had too.

5. Rika : I dont want to stay here.

Feni: Neither do I.

6. X: My mother cant speak French, and how about yours?

Y: My mother doesnt either.

7. Rio : My father doesnt watch tv in the morning.

Ria : My mother doesnt either.

8. Rika : She has found a lovely dress.

Mira : But I havent.

9. X : She has not a good boy friend.

Y : But I have .

10. Rio : I can drive a motor cycle to around the world.

Ria : But I cant.

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2.2 Elliptical Structure
The structures of English elliptical construction are as follows:
a. Two positive statements that have same predicate (including object and complement)
can be arranged as follows:
subject + verb (be) + and +
so + verb (be) + subject

Here are some of the examples:

1) He is busy. I am busy.
He is busy, and I am too. Or
He is busy, and so am I.

2) You bought a new book. She bought a new book.

You bought a new book, and she did too. Or
You bought a new book, and so did she.

b. Two Negative statements that have same predicate (including object and complement)
can be arranged as follows:
Negative statement + and..neither positive auxiliary or be subject
subject negative auxiliary or be either

Here are some examples:

1) I dont like smoking. He doesnt like smoking.
I dont like smoking, and he doesnt either. Or
I dont like smoking, and neither does he.

2) He wasnt ill and I wasnt ill.

He wasnt ill, and I wasnt either. Or
He wasnt ill, and neither was I.

c. Two positive statements which contain compound verb (auxiliary/modal + verb) can
be arranged by using the pattern in point a.
Here are some examples:
1) He will come here soon. She will come here soon.

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 He will come here soon, and so will she. Or
He will come here soon, and she will too.

2) Budi can play the piano. I can play the piano.

Budi can play the piano, and I can too. Or
Budi can play the piano, and so can I.

d. Two negative statements which contain compound verb (auxiliary/modal + verb) can
be arranged by using the pattern in point b.

Here are some examples:

1) He cant play tennis. You cant play tennis.
He cant play tennis, and you cant either. Or
He cant play tennis and neither can you.

e. The combination of negative statements and positive statements with the same tense is
arranged by using the conjunction but. The pattern is as follows:

Subject + {Negative, Auxiliary,(Modal)}+ but + subject + { Negative, Auxiliary,

(Modal)}

Here are some of the examples:

1) Amir can play a guitar. Ali cant play a guitar.
Amir can play a guitar, but Ali cant.

Arifah is a student. Fatimah is not a student.

Arifah is a student, but Fatimah isnt.

2) I dont like smoking. He likes smoking.

I dont like smoking, but he does.

f. The combination of two positive statements which contains verb, noun, etc; in the
same tense is arranged by using the conjunction Bothand.

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 Here are some of the examples:
1) I study English. He studies English.
Both I and he study English.
2) Amir was happy. Udin was happy.
Both Amir and Udin were happy.

g. The pattern below is used to state one of two actions in two sentences with same
tense. Either or + positive auxiliary (modal).

Here are some of the examples:

1) We can read a newspaper. We can play the guitar.
We can either read a newspaper or play the guitar.

2) He will take it. I will take it.

Either he or I will take it.

h. The pattern below is used to state none of: Neithernor+ positive auxiliary
(modal).

Here are some of the examples:

1) My brother isnt policeman. My brother isnt a postman.
My brother is neither a policeman nor a postman.

2) He doesnt want a pencil. He doesnt want a book.

He wants neither a pencil nor a book.

2.3 Elliptical Placement

Ellipsis can happen in some positions in a sentence. Ellipsis at the beginning of a
sentence is described as follows:
a. Words that can be left out are articles, possessives, personal pronouns and auxiliary
verbs.
For examples:
1) Car s giving trouble again. (=The cars)

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2) Whats the matter? Stomachs sore. (My stomach)
3) Couldnt understand what he wanted (=I couldnt understand what he wanted.)
4) Seen Andy? (=Have you seen Andy?)

b. Personal pronouns can always be left out before ordinary verbs, if this leaves the meaning
clear.
For examples:
1) Wonder what shes doing.
2) Hope to see you soon.
3) Looks just like his father.
A personal pronoun cannot always be left out before an auxiliary verb. A subject
pronoun before a negative auxiliary verb, and sometimes before a modal auxiliary verb like
must, but the subject before affirmative have, be or will cannot be dropped.
For examples:
1) Cant do it.
2) Havent seen him.
3) Wont work, you know.
4) May see you tomorrow.
5) Must dust.
6) Doesnt know what she wants.

However, it is possible to drop thesubject pronoun and the auxiliary, if this

leaves the meaning clear.
For examples:
1) See you soon.
2) Coming tomorrow.
3) Forgotten your name.

c. In affirmative sentences, ellipsis is most common with first-person or third-person subjects.

The replacement subject there can also be left out.
For example:
Nobody at home. (=There is nobody at home.)
Ellipsis is less common with second-person subjects (except in questions), but is perfectly
possible in cases where the meaning clear.

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For examples:
1) Cant go in there. (=You cant)
2) Need your oil changing.
3) Have to wait a bit, Im afraid.
4) Keeping well, I hope.

d. In questions, auxiliary verbs (do, have, be, or will) can be left out. The subject can be
dropped as well if this leaves the meaning clear.
For examples:
1) You ready?
2) Ready?
3) Your father got a car?
4) Anybody want more?
5) You be here tomorrow?

e. Ellipsis is very common in sentences that have some sort of tag stuck on the end.
For examples:
a. Cant swim, myself.
b. Dutch, arent you?
c. Going on holiday, your kids?
d. Like my pint, I do.
e. Getting in your way, am I?
Meanwhile, the places of ellipsis in a
Sentence are as follows:
1. Ellipsis of subject and (or Auxiliary) / (Modal).
For examples:
a. Ridwan ate a cheese sandwich and (Ridwan) drank a glass of coffee.
b. Yulia should clean the shed and Amir (should) mow the lawn.
c. The volcano erupted much more violently than (it) was foreseen.
d. Bakri must have been studying English and Farida (must have been) doing her
homework.
2. Ellipsis of predicate or predication
For examples:
a. I work in a factory, and my brother (works) on a farm.

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 b. She will study today, and she may (study) tomorrow.
c. Its cold in December in England, but (it is cold) in July in New Zealand.
d. Arif is playing football for his school, and Yusuf (is playing football) for his club.
e. Adi will take the course, and Udin might (take the course) too.
3. Ellipsis of Direct Object or Subject Complement.
For examples:
a. Hasan likes (Dewi), and Agus hates, Dewi.
b. Ismail was happy, and Rahmad certainly seemed so (happy).
c. Nashir has recently become (a very diligent student), and his brother always was, a
very diligent student.

2.4 Kinds Elliptical

There are two kinds of ellipsis, namely ellipsis depending on linguistic context
and nonlinguistic context.

a. Ellipsis depends on linguistic context

1) Adverbial finite clause
In adverbial finite clause, the whole predicate or part of predicate can be deleted.

Examples:
a. I am happy if you are (happy).
b. Mary is dusting the furniture because Alice wont (dust the furniture).

2) Adverbial non-finite and verb less clauses

The subjects (co-referential) with that of the super ordinate clause and an appropriate
form of be are ellipted in:

a) Participle Clauses, example:

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 Although (he was) told to stop, he kept on working. If there is no subordinator, more
than one subordinator can be available, and maybe there are some possibilities for
time and aspect. Examples:

1. (If/When they are) punished, they will not cooperate.

2. Although living many miles away, he attended the course= although he is living/was
living/lives/lived many miles away, he attended the course.

b) Verb less clauses, example:

While (he was) at oxford, he was active in the dramatic society.

3) Post modification
Post modifying clauses or clause or phrase can often be considered relative clauses
which are reduced:

a. Post modifying clauses, examples:

1) The police rounded up men (who are/were) known to have been in the
building at that time.
2) The man owning that car will be fined for illegal parking.
b. Post modifying adjective phrases, example:
The men (who were) responsible for the administration of the school refused
to consider the matter.
c. Post modifying prepositional phrases, example:
He spoke to the girl (who was) from New York.

4) Supplementing and appended clauses

A supplementing clause can be regarded as an elliptical clause (usually parenthetic or
an after thought) for which the whole of the preceding or interrupted clause
constitutes the ellipsis:
Example: I caught the train.-just. (= I caught the train. I only just caught the train)

In appended clause only part of the preceding or the interrupted clause constitutes the
ellipsis, and an additional clause constituent is present:
Example:

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 They are meant to wound, perhaps to kill. (= They are meant to wound. They are
perhaps meant to kill).

b. Ellipsis does not depend on linguistic context

Some informational ellipsis types which do not depend on linguistic context, for example:
Serve you right can be expanded to It serves you right. In some cases, which are ellipted
are initial words or words in a sentence. Examples:

1) (I am) sorry I couldnt be here.

2) (Ive) got to go now.
3) (You) had a good time?
4) (Its) good to see you.
5) (Are you) looking for anybody?
6) (Is) anything the matter?
7) (Does) anybody need a lift?

CHAPTER III
CLOSING

3.1 Conclusion
Based on the description above, the writer can give a short explanation of elliptical
construction as follows. Ellipsis can be seen from the structure, the place, and the kind.
Viewed from the structure, when the sentences are positive we can use the structure of
elliptical construction: Subject + verb (be) + too, or So + verb (be) + subject; when the
sentences are negative we can use the pattern: Subject + negative auxiliary or be + either, or
Neither + positive auxiliary or be + subject.
Viewed from the place, we can apply ellipsis in the place of subject and (or auxiliary)
(modal), of predicate or predication, of direct object or subjective complement.
Kinds of ellipsis can be viewed from linguistic context and nonlinguistic context. Ellipsis
which depends on linguistic context can be in the form of adverbial finite clause, adverbial
non finite and verb less clauses which can be subdivided into participle clause and verb less
clause, post modification consisting of post modifying clauses, post modifying adjective
phrase, post modifying prepositional phrase, supplementing and appended clauses.

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 REFERENCES

Haryanti, Sri. 2010. English Elliptical Construction, ISSN. Magistra No. 73

[Accessed on january 17, 2017]
Kobele, Gregory M. 2007. Parsing Elliptical Structure. Humboldt Universitat Zu
Berlin. [Accessed on january 17, 2017]

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