Worksheet: Substitution and Ellipsis
Directions: Read each sentence carefully and identify whether it contains an example of substitution or ellipsis. If it contains an example of substitution, underline the substitute word or phrase. If it contains an example of ellipsis, put a circle around the omitted word or phrase.
Example:
Original sentence: John went to the store and John bought some bread.
Substituted sentence: John went to the store and he bought some bread.
Substitution is used, the word "John" is replaced by the pronoun "he".
1. Sarah likes to read books, but James prefers watching movies.
2. The cat chased the mouse, and then the mouse ran away.
3. The children were playing outside, and one of them fell and hurt their knee.
4. The restaurant has great food, but the service is slow.
5. Maria is good at playing the piano, and her sister is skilled at playing the guitar.
6. I'm going to the store, do you want to come with me?
7. The dog barked loudly, and then it ran away.
8. The concert was amazing, and the audience gave the performers a standing ovation.
9. The student forgot their homework, so the teacher gave them an extra day to complete it.
10. The car needs new tires, but I don't have enough money to buy them right now.
MCQs
1. Which of the following refers to the use of a linguistic expression to replace or stand in for a previously mentioned noun phrase?
a. Substitution
b. Ellipsis
c. Syntax
d. Morphology
2. Which of the following refers to the omission of a linguistic expression that is recoverable from the context?
a. Substitution
b. Ellipsis
c. Semantics
d. Pragmatics
3. Which of the following can occur within a single sentence or across multiple sentences or paragraphs?
a. Substitution
b. Ellipsis
c. Morphology
d. Syntax
4. Which of the following is an example of substitution?
a. John ate an apple, and Mary a pear.
b. John went to the store and he bought some bread.
c. The cat sat on the mat.
d. She is a doctor.
5. Which of the following is an example of ellipsis?
a. John went to the store and John bought some bread.
b. The dog chased the cat, but the cat got away.
c. The sun is shining and the birds are singing.
d. John ate an apple, and Mary ate a pear.
6. Which of the following is not a benefit of substitution?
a. Reducing redundancy
b. Making the text more concise
c. Clarifying the reference of the noun phrase
d. Making the text more efficient
7. Which of the following is not a benefit of ellipsis?
a. Making the text more efficient
b. Avoiding unnecessary redundancy
c. Highlighting the relationships between different elements of the text
d. Increasing the length of the text
8. Which of the following can be easily inferred from the context in an elliptical sentence?
a. The subject of the sentence
b. The object of the sentence
c. The verb of the sentence
d. All of the above
9. Which of the following is an example of substitution across multiple sentences?
a. John went to the store and he bought some bread. He also picked up some milk.
b. The cat sat on the mat. It was a comfortable spot.
c. She is a doctor. She works at the hospital.
d. The car is blue. It is parked in the driveway.
10. Which of the following is an example of ellipsis across multiple sentences?
a. John went to the store and bought some bread. Mary went to the park and played with her dog.
b. The cat sat on the mat. It was a comfortable spot. The dog lay on the rug.
c. She is a doctor. She works at the hospital. She is very dedicated to her patients.
d. The car is blue. It is parked in the driveway. The keys are in the ignition.
11. Which of the following is an example of substitution using a substitute word other than a pronoun?
a. John went to the store and that's where he bought some bread.
b. The cat sat on the mat, and it was a comfortable spot for the feline.
c. She is a doctor, and her occupation is very fulfilling.
d. The car is blue, and the color is very vibrant.
12. Which of the following is an example of ellipsis of a verb?
a. John ate an apple, and Mary a pear.
b. The cat sat on the mat, and the dog under the table.
c. She is a doctor, and her brother a lawyer.
d. The car is blue, and the truck red.
13. Which of the following is not an effect of substitution?
a. Making the text more concise
b. Avoiding repetition
c. Maintaining coherence
d. Increasing redundancy
14. Which of the following is not an effect of substitution?
a. Making the text more concise
b. Avoiding repetition
c. Maintaining coherence
d. Increasing redundancy
15. Which of the following is not an effect of ellipsis?
a. Making the text more concise
b. Avoiding unnecessary redundancy
c. Maintaining coherence
d. Making the text more complex
16. Which of the following is a disadvantage of overusing substitution and ellipsis in writing?
a. Making the text too long
b. Making the text difficult to understand
c. Reducing coherence
d. Increasing redundancy
17. Which of the following is an example of a situation where ellipsis should not be used?
a. In formal writing
b. In informal writing
c. In poetry
d. In advertising
18. Which of the following is an example of a situation where substitution should not be used?
a. When there is only one possible referent for the noun phrase
b. When the noun phrase is the main focus of the sentence
c. When the noun phrase is already concise and specific
d. When the noun phrase has not been mentioned before
19. Which of the following is an example of a pronoun that can be used for substitution?
a. This
b. That
c. One
d. All of the above
20. Which of the following is an example of a word that can be omitted through ellipsis?
a. A verb
b. An adjective
c. A preposition
d. A noun
Fill in the blanks:
1. __________ is the use of a linguistic expression to replace or stand in for a previously mentioned noun phrase.
2. __________ is the omission of a linguistic expression that is recoverable from the context.
3. Substitution can occur within a __________ or across multiple sentences or paragraphs.
4. John went to the store and he bought some bread. The word "he" is an example of __________.
5. John ate an apple, and Mary a pear. The elliptical sentence "John ate an apple, and Mary __________" is an example of ellipsis.
6. Substitution helps to avoid __________ of the same noun phrase in a sentence or discourse.
7. Ellipsis helps to avoid unnecessary __________ of information that has already been mentioned in the discourse.
8. Ellipsis can be used to omit a __________, object, or adverbial phrase that has already been mentioned in the discourse.
9. Substitution involves using a different word or phrase to replace the original __________ phrase.
10. Ellipsis involves omitting a word or phrase that can be __________ from the context.
11. Both substitution and ellipsis are important tools for creating __________ and maintaining the flow of discourse.
12. Substitution can clarify the __________ of the noun phrase, making it easier for the reader or listener to follow the discourse.
13. Ellipsis can help to maintain the __________ of the discourse by highlighting the relationships between different elements of the text.
14. Overusing substitution and ellipsis in writing can make the text __________ to understand.
15. Ellipsis should not be used in __________ writing.
16. Substitution should not be used when the noun phrase is the __________ focus of the sentence.
17. Pronouns like "it," "that," and "one" can be used for __________.
18. A word that can be omitted through ellipsis is often a __________.
19. Substitution and ellipsis both allow writers and speakers to avoid __________, clarify references, and highlight the relationships between different elements of the text.
20. Substitution and ellipsis are important tools for creating coherence and maintaining the flow of __________.
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