Ellipsis and substitution: I hope so, I'd love to – ellipsis exercises for natural short replies

This C1 drill lesson gives ellipsis and substitution exercises: words just said are replaced by so, not, one or do so, or dropped after to and auxiliaries.

Grammar: I think so, I hope not, I'm afraid so and If not; one and ones against it and them; do so; I'd love to; and she did; We can and will win.
Topic: Science: an invented podcast interview with an octopus scientist about her escape-artist octopus, with listener questions, the host's post, a listener's email and a friend's texts.
Activities: True or false, sorting, choices, gap-fills, matching, tables, quizzes, drag-and-drop texts, word order, a memory game and a chat.

What's inside

Chapter 1The rule
- PictureUnlock
- Study the scheme: ellipsis and substitutionGrammar schemeTry it
- Is the sentence correct? Mark true or falseTrue or falseUnlock
- Sort the sentences: which word fills the gap?Sort into columnsTry it
- Choose the right wordsChoose the optionUnlock
- Fill in the gaps: one word in eachFill in the gapsUnlock
Chapter 2I hope so, I'm afraid not
- Fill in the gaps: short replies with the verb in bracketsFill in the gapsTry it
- Choose the right replyChoose the optionUnlock
- Match the questions and the repliesMatchUnlock
- Fill in the table: short replies with each verbFill in the tableUnlock
- Find the mistake and choose the right words: so and notQuizUnlock
- Read the work chat and fill in the gapsFill in the gapsUnlock
Chapter 3I'd love to, and she did
- Choose the right words: leave out the verbChoose the optionTry it
- Fill in the gaps: the right auxiliary or modalFill in the gapsUnlock
- Fill in the gaps: do so in the right formFill in the gapsUnlock
- Read Rafferty's message and drag the words into the gapsDrag and dropUnlock
- Find the mistake and choose the right words: to and auxiliariesQuizUnlock
- Match the beginnings and the endingsMatchUnlock
Chapter 4A new one, the old ones
- Choose the right word: one, ones, it or themChoose the optionUnlock
- Fill in the gaps: say it without repeating the nounFill in the gapsUnlock
- Sort the sentences: correct or wrong?Sort into columnsUnlock
- Read the conversation in the store and drag the words into the gapsDrag and dropTry it
- Fill in the gaps: make the sentences shorterFill in the gapsUnlock
- Choose the correct short versionQuizUnlock
- Put the words in the right order: short and naturalUnjumbleUnlock
Chapter 5Real life: Eight arms, three hearts
- Read the podcast interviewReal-life documentUnlock
- Read the interview again: true or false?True or falseUnlock
- Read part two of the interview and fill in the gapsFill in the gapsUnlock
- Read Hollis's post about the episode and choose the right wordsChoose the optionUnlock
- Read Rosalind's email to the podcast and drag the words into the gapsDrag and dropUnlock
- Choose the right replies: Lucinda texts youChatTry it
- Test yourself: choose the right answerQuizUnlock
Chapter 6Homework
- Choose the right reply: at workChoose the optionUnlock
- Fill in the gaps: short replies on vacationFill in the gapsUnlock
- Choose the right word: shoppingChoose the optionUnlock
- Fill in the gaps: leave out the verbFill in the gapsUnlock
- Read Fergus's postcard and drag the words into the gapsDrag and dropUnlock
- Match the questions and the replies: at homeMatchUnlock
- Find the matching pairs: long and shortMemory gameUnlock
- Put the words in the right order: repliesUnjumbleUnlock
- Fill in the table: say it in fewer wordsFill in the tableUnlock
- Sort the sentences: what do the short words replace?Sort into columnsUnlock
- Find the mistake and choose the right words: everyday EnglishQuizUnlock
- Choose the correct sentenceQuizUnlock
- Read Bettina's email and fill in the gaps without repeating wordsFill in the gapsUnlock
- Read Zenobia's review and choose the right wordsChoose the optionUnlock
- Read the gym notice and fill in the gaps without repeating wordsFill in the gapsUnlock

Grammar: saying it once: substitution and ellipsis

English avoids repeating words it has just used. Either a short word stands in for them (so, not, one, do so) or they simply drop out: Would you like to dance? — I'd love to. What is left must still fit the grammar: to stays, and the auxiliary matches the missing verb.

Ellipsis and substitution: don't say it twice

Good English doesn't repeat itself: replace the words you have just said (so, not, one, do so) or leave them out (I'd love to, and she did).

So and not after think, hope and be afraid

So stands for a whole yes clause, not for a no: I think so. I hope not. Hope and be afraid take not, never don't… so; think, expect and believe usually take don't… so. After these verbs, never yes, no or it.

so and not: a whole answer in one word

Verb	Yes (+)	No (−)
think	I think so.	I don't think so. · formal: I think not.
hope	I hope so.	I hope not. (not: I don't hope so)
be afraid (bad news)	I'm afraid so.	I'm afraid not.
suppose · guess	I suppose so. · I guess so.	I suppose not. · I don't suppose so. · I guess not.
expect · believe	I expect so. · I believe so.	I don't expect so. · I don't believe so. · formal: I expect not. · I believe not.
if	If so, … (= if yes)	If not, … (= if no)

so or not? Watch the verb

hope and be afraid take not: I hope not. · I'm afraid not. (Not: I don't hope so. I hope not so.) think, expect, believe usually take don't … so: I don't think so. (I think not is formal, but right.) In a short reply, never yes, no or it after these verbs. (Not: I think yes. I hope no. I'm afraid it.)

One and ones, it and them

One and ones replace a countable noun: a bigger one, the red ones. Alone, one takes no a: Can we borrow one? It never replaces an uncountable noun. It and them mean the same thing; one means any thing of that kind.

one / ones, it / them

one / ones replace a countable noun: a red one, the ones on the left. Alone, without a / an: I need a stamp. Do you have one? Not for uncountable nouns: I prefer still water to sparkling. Never one + the noun: the red ones or the red cars. it / them = the same thing, one = any thing of that kind: I can't find my key anywhere. I'll get a new one.

Do so, to and the auxiliary

Do so replaces an action in formal English: Visitors may do so in the garden. After want, love or mean, to alone stands for the verb: I meant to, but I forgot. An auxiliary or modal stands for the verb and the rest: I can't swim, but my kids can.

Use	It replaces	Example
one / ones	a countable noun: one thing / more things	I don't want a big car, just a small one. · The red apples or the green ones?
do so · did so · done so	an action: the verb and the rest (formal)	Visitors who want to take photos may do so in the garden.
to	to + verb + the rest, after want, love, would like, have, try, mean, need, used	Do you want to come? — I'd love to. · I meant to, but I forgot.
an auxiliary or a modal	the verb and the rest (no to after can, will, must…)	She said she'd call, and she did. · I can't swim, but my kids can.

Leaving repeated words out

After and, but or or, a repeated subject drops: She opened the door and walked in. Two modals can share one verb, We can and will win, but only when the verb has the same form after both. In speech the start can go too: Sounds good!

After and / but / or, leave out a repeated subject (and auxiliary): She opened the door and walked in. · I've washed and ironed the shirts.
Two modals can share one verb: We can and will win. · You may or may not agree.
…but only when the verb has the same form after both: can win, will win → can and will win. Not: She has and will help (has helped, will help).
Leave out a repeated verb: Tom ordered fish, and Ana pasta.
After an auxiliary or a modal, leave out the verb and the rest: I haven't finished, but I will. · He works harder than I do.
In everyday speech, leave out the start: (Do you) Want a coffee? · (It) Sounds good! · (I'll) See you later!

Four classic slips

Students say I don't hope so for I hope not, drop to in Yes, I'd love, keep the noun in the red one cars and add an article in Can we borrow a one?

Is it going to rain? — I don't hope so.
Is it going to rain? — I hope not.
hope + not
Do you want to come with us? — Yes, I'd love.
Do you want to come with us? — Yes, I'd love to.
keep to: it stands for the verb
I like the red one cars.
I like the red ones. · I like the red cars.
one(s) or the noun, never both
We need a ladder. Can we borrow a one?
We need a ladder. Can we borrow one?
one alone, without a / an

Replace the words, or leave them out

words you just saidso / not · one / ones · do soor leave them out: to · can · did

Will it be cold tonight? — I hope not. (= I hope it won't be cold.)

My bike is too small for me. I need a bigger one.

Would you like to dance? — I'd love to. (= I'd love to dance.)

Examples

Is the library open today? — I'm afraid not. It's a holiday.bad news: be afraid + not
Will she win? — I don't think so. (formal: I think not.)think: don't … so
I don't like the green apples. I prefer the red ones.ones = apples
Nobody thought he would pass, but he did.did = passed
We asked him to sign the form, and he did so at once.did so = signed the form (formal)
We can and will finish it today.two modals, one verb

Try the ellipsis and substitution exercises

Try them yourself: these are the same exercises your students do in edio.

What's in the lesson

41 auto-checked exercises
3 games
1 real-life document
1 grammar scheme
1 picture

The main objectives of this lesson are to:

answer with so or not after think, hope or be afraid, never yes or no: Can I park here? — I'm afraid not. It's for residents only.
make hope negative the right way: Will they cancel the concert? — I hope not, not I don't hope so
replace a countable noun with one or ones: My laptop is so slow. I really need a new one.
leave out the verb after to or an auxiliary: Would you like to come sailing with us? — I'd love to. She said she would bring dessert, and she did.
use do so in formal rules: Students who wish to retake the exam may do so in June.

Grammar:: ellipsis · substitution · so / not · I hope not · one / ones · do so · I'd love to · auxiliary ellipsis
Topic:: grammar practice · interviews · podcasts · science · animals

Teaching tips

Fire off yes-no questions about tomorrow, such as Will it rain? or Is the café open? Students answer in two or three words with hope, think or afraid, then add a reason.
Set up a mini shop: put out pairs of objects, like two pens and two scarves, and students ask for them without naming the noun: Can I have the blue one? The small ones, please.
Cut a wordy message down: give pairs a short email full of repeats, and they strike out every one they can, using so, one, to or an auxiliary instead.

Liked it?

Teach the whole lesson in edio

44 exercises in 6 chapters, ready to teach. edio is an online platform for language schools and teachers: ready-made interactive lessons, live classes, homework and student progress in one place.

Start a free trial
7 days, no credit card.
Open the lesson
Find it in the library of 621 ready lessons. Teach it as it is, or copy any chapter into your own lessons.
Teach it live or as homework
Students work in their own accounts, in sync with you during the lesson, and the practice exercises check themselves.

Teach it free for 7 days

The whole course: English Grammar Practice · C1

English Grammar Practice · C1 has 16 drill lessons on advanced grammar, one point each: inversion, cleft sentences, the subjunctive, advanced passives, ellipsis, nominalization, hedging, fronting and concession. Each has the rule as a scheme, 43 to 47 exercises that check themselves, 15 of them for homework, and no new words.See the course

Unlock full lesson