Collins Cobuild English Grammar (179 page)

I’m sure it was repeated in the media. It
must have been
.
She was not doing her homework as she
should have been
.

10.68
   If the second verb phrase contains the auxiliary
have
in any form, speakers of British English sometimes add
done
to the group. For example, instead of saying
He says he didn’t see it but he must have
, they sometimes say
He says he didn’t see it but he must have done
.

He hadn’t kept a backup, but he
should have done
.

     American speakers repeat only the auxiliary verb
have
.

He hadn’t kept a backup, but he
should have
.
It would have been nice to have won, and I
might have done
if I had tried harder.

Similarly, British speakers sometimes use
do
after modals.

He responded almost as a student
might do
.

     American speakers do not use
do
after modals.

Note that when the verb used in the first mention of an action or state is the main verb
have
, instead of using
do
after a modal in the second mention, you often use
have
instead.

‘Do you think that academics
have
an understanding of the real world?’ – ‘No, and I don’t think they
should have
.’

10.69
   Usually, the clause with words omitted comes after a clause in which the action or state has been mentioned in full with a main verb. Occasionally, however, for a deliberate effect, it comes before the clause that mentions the action or state in full.

The problems in the economy are now being reflected, as they
should be
, in the housing market

repeating the main verb

10.70
   If you want to be emphatic, you repeat the main verb, instead of leaving it out.

It was the largest swarm of wasps that had ever been seen or that ever would be
seen
.

contrasting objects and adverbials

10.71
   Note that if you want to contrast two different things affected by an action, or two different factors or circumstances, you can put a new object or adverbial in the second clause, with an auxiliary or form of
be
.

Cook
nettles
exactly as you
would spinach
.
You don’t get as much bickering
on a farm
as you
do in most jobs
.
Survival rates for cancer are twice as high
in America
as they
are in Britain
.
No one liked being young
then
as they
do now
.

However, the main verb is sometimes repeated.

Can’t you at least
treat me
the way you
treat regular clients
?

USAGE NOTE

10.72
   You can omit a verb after the semi-modals
dare
and
need
, but only when they are used in the negative.

‘I don’t mind telling you what I know.’ – ‘You
needn’t
. I’m not asking you for it.’ ‘You must tell her the truth.’ – ‘But, Neill, I
daren’t
.’

Similarly, the verb is only omitted after the modal expressions
had rather
and
would rather
when they are used in the negative. However, the verb is sometimes omitted after
had better
even when it is used affirmatively.

‘Will she be happy there?’ – ‘She’
d better
.’
It’s just that I’
d rather
not.

10.73
   You can also leave words out of
to
-infinitive clauses. Instead of using a full
to
-infinitive clause after a verb, you can just use
to
, if the action or state has already been mentioned.

Don’t tell me if you don’t want
to
.
At last he agreed to do what I asked him
to
.

You can also do this in conversation.

‘Do you ever visit a doctor?’ I asked her. – ‘No. We can’t afford
to
.’

Note that there are some verbs, such as
try
and
ask
, that are also often used on their own, without
to
.

They couldn’t help each other, and it was ridiculous to
try
.
I’m sure she’ll help you, if you
ask
.

In conversation

10.74
   People often leave words out in conversation in replies and questions. When this happens, it can involve leaving out the main verb in the ways that have been explained above (see paragraphs
10.60
to
10.73
). This is common with questions that show that you find what someone has said interesting or surprising, or that you do not agree with them. These questions always have a pronoun as their subject.

‘He gets free meals.’ – ‘
Does he
?’
‘They’re starting up a new arts centre there.’ – ‘
Are they
?’
‘I’ve checked everyone.’ – ‘
Have you now
?’

leaving words out in questions

10.75
   You can often leave words out in questions when the context makes it clear what is meant. The question can consist of just a
wh
-word.

‘Someone’s in the house.’ – ‘
Who
?’ – ‘I think it might be Gary.’
‘But I’m afraid there’s more.’ – ‘
What
?’
‘Can I speak to you?’ I asked, undaunted. – ‘
Why
?’ – ‘It’s important.’
‘We’re going on holiday tomorrow.’ – ‘
Where
?’ – ‘To Majorca.’

Note that you can also use
why not
.

‘Maria! We won’t discuss that here.’ – ‘
Why not
?’

Note also that you can use a
wh
-word after a reporting verb, especially
why
.

I asked
why
.
They enquired
how
.

10.76
   Other questions can also consist of only a very few words when the context makes it clear what is meant. Short questions of this kind are often used to express surprise or to offer something to someone.

‘Could you please come to Ira’s right away and help me out?’–
‘
Now
?’ ‘
Tonight
?’– ‘It’s incredibly important.’
‘He’s going to die, you see.’– ‘
Die
?’
‘
Cup of coffee
?’ Lionel asked, kindly.
He drank the water and handed me the glass. ‘
More
?’ ‘No, that’s just fine, thank you.’

leaving words out in replies

10.77
   When you reply to
wh
-questions, you can often use one word or a group of words rather than a full sentence. You do this to avoid repeating words used in the question. For example, if someone asks
What is your favourite colour
?, the normal reply is a single word, for example
Blue
, rather than a sentence such as
My favourite colour is blue
.

‘What’s your name?’ – ‘
Pete
.’
‘How do you feel?’ – ‘
Strange
.’
‘Where do you come from?’ – ‘
Cardiff
.’
‘Where are we going? – ‘
Up the coast
.’
‘How long have you been out of this country?’ – ‘
About three months
.’
‘How much money is there in that case?’ – ‘
Six hundred pounds
.’
‘Why should they want me to know?’ – ‘
To scare you
, perhaps. Who can tell?’