DK Grammar Guide

250

As well as ellipsis (leaving words out), repetition can be

avoided by replacing some phrases with shorter ones.

This is called substitution.

Substitution

See also:

Countable and uncountable nouns 70

The past simple 7

SUBSTITUTING WITH “ONE / ONES” AND “SOME”

FURTHER EXAMPLES

“One” and “ones” can be used to replace singular and plural countable nouns.

“Ones” can only be used to refer to a specific group of things. “Some” is used

when the group is not defined, and to replace uncountable nouns.

SINGLE COUNTABLE NOUNS PLURAL COUNTABLE NOUNS

“One” replaces

“a copy of the book.”

“Ones” can only be used if

modified to define the specific

things that are meant.

“A few ” can be used instead of “some.”

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251

Verbs and their complements can also be used with substitute

words to avoid repetition. “Do” and “did” are often used

to replace present and past simple tense verbs, for example.

FURTHER EXAMPLES SUBSTITUTING NEGATIVES WITH “NOT... SO” AND “NOT”

In positive clauses after

verbs of thinking, “so”

can be used to avoid

repetition. “Not” or

“not... so” are used in

negative sentences.

SUBSTITUTING WITH “DO”

Different forms of

“do” replace “think.”

SUBSTITUTING WITH “SO” AND “NOT”

“Not” is used with with “hope,” “assume,”

and “be afraid” (when “afraid” means “sorry ”).

“Not” or “not... so” are used with

“appear,” “seem,” and “suppose.”

“Not... so” is used with “think,”

“believe,” “expect,” and “imagine.”

“Do” prevents

repetition of

‘call a plumber”

FURTHER EXAMPLES

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