How do you use "Ellipsis after Auxiliaries" in a sentence?

Will you come?' 'I might. Have you finished?' 'Yes, I have. She could have complained, but she didn't. He said he'd call, and he did.

Ellipsis after Auxiliaries

Q: What does "Ellipsis after Auxiliaries" mean?

Omitting repeated information after auxiliaries After modals and auxiliaries, we can omit the main verb if it's understood: 'Can you swim?' 'Yes, I can.' (= can swim). 'She said she'd help, and she has.' (= has helped).

Grammar Pattern BritishAmericanAustralian ★★★★☆ Common Neutral

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Meaning: Omitting repeated information after auxiliaries

助动词后省略重复信息

Omitir información repetida después de auxiliares

助動詞の後の繰り返し情報を省略する

조동사 뒤에 반복되는 정보를 생략하기

After modals and auxiliaries, we can omit the main verb if it's understood: 'Can you swim?' 'Yes, I can.' (= can swim). 'She said she'd help, and she has.' (= has helped).

在情态动词和助动词之后，如果主动词可以理解，就可以省略：'Can you swim?' 'Yes, I can.'（=can swim）。'She said she'd help, and she has.'（=has helped）。

Después de modales y auxiliares, podemos omitir el verbo principal si se entiende: 'Can you swim?' 'Yes, I can.' (= can swim). 'She said she'd help, and she has.' (= has helped).

モーダル動詞と助動詞の後、主動詞が理解できる場合は省略できます：「Can you swim?」「Yes, I can.」（= can swim）。「She said she'd help, and she has.」（= has helped）。

조동사 뒤에 본동사가 이해되는 경우 생략할 수 있습니다: 'Can you swim?' 'Yes, I can.' (= can swim). 'She said she'd help, and she has.' (= has helped).

Examples

Will you come?' 'I might.
你会来吗？' '可能会。
¿Vendrás?' 'Puede que sí.
来ますか？' 'かもしれない。
올 거야?' '갈 수도 있어.
Have you finished?' 'Yes, I have.
你完成了吗？' '是的，完成了。
¿Has terminado?' 'Sí, he terminado.
終わりましたか？' 'はい、終わりました。
끝났어?' '응, 끝났어.
She could have complained, but she didn't.
她本可以抱怨，但她没有。
Ella podría haberse quejado, pero no lo hizo.
彼女は文句を言えたけど、言わなかった。
그녀는 불평할 수도 있었지만, 하지 않았다.
He said he'd call, and he did.
他说会打电话，他确实打了。
Él dijo que llamaría, y lo hizo.
彼は電話すると言って、実際にした。
그는 전화하겠다고 했고, 실제로 했다.

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

Context: spoken, written, everyday

Tone: concise

✓ Do Say

She can't swim, but I can.
她不会游泳，但我会。
Ella no sabe nadar, pero yo sí.
彼女は泳げないけど、私は泳げる。
그녀는 수영을 못 하지만, 나는 할 수 있다.
I haven't seen it, but Tom has.
我没看过，但汤姆看过了。
No lo he visto, pero Tom sí.
私は見ていないが、トムは見た。
나는 보지 못했지만, 톰은 봤다.
Will they agree? They might.
他们会同意吗？也许会。
¿Estarán de acuerdo? Puede que sí.
彼らは同意するだろうか？するかもしれない。
그들이 동의할까? 그럴 수도 있다.

✗ Don't Say

She can't swim, but I can swim it. (ellipsis is more natural)
She can't swim, but I can swim it.（省略更自然）
She can't swim, but I can swim it. (la elipsis es más natural)
She can't swim, but I can swim it.（省略の方が自然）
She can't swim, but I can swim it.（생략이 더 자연스러움）

Origin & History

Auxiliary ellipsis

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal