Ellipsis and substitution

Avoiding repetition with so, not, do so, one(s), auxiliaries and ellipsis after to

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1. 1
   Multiple choice

   'Will the meeting be cancelled?' — 'I hope .'

   notnodon'tnot soAfter hope, the negative substitute is not: I hope not (= I hope it won't be cancelled).
2. 2
   Multiple choice

   'Is she coming to the conference?' — 'I don't .'

   think sothink itthinkso thinkAfter think, believe, expect and suppose we use so to replace a whole clause: I don't think so.
3. 3
   Multiple choice

   The committee asked him to withdraw the remark, and he duly .

   did sodid it somade soso didDo so replaces a verb phrase in formal English: he withdrew the remark → he did so.
4. 4
   Multiple choice

   I wanted to stay longer, but I wasn't able .

   toto ititsoWe can keep to and leave out the rest of the verb phrase: I wasn't able to (stay longer).
5. 5
   Fill the gap

   These proposals are more realistic than the we discussed last month.

   onesonethemthose onesOnes replaces a plural countable noun (proposals) to avoid repetition.
6. 6
   Fill the gap

   She said she would finish the report by Friday, and she .

   didwashadwouldAn auxiliary on its own stands for the whole verb phrase: and she did (finish it).
7. 7
   Fill the gap

   Few people expected the merger to succeed, but it .

   hasiswashad beenAlso accepted: didThe auxiliary has (or did) stands for 'has succeeded' / 'succeeded'.
8. 8
   Fill the gap

   'You've been working late again.' — 'I know. And I'll probably have to again tonight.'

   Answer: do soDo so replaces the verb phrase (work late).
9. 9
   Fill the gap

   'Has the decision been made?' — 'It appears .'

   soitthatyesAppear, seem and be afraid can be followed by so or not to replace a clause.
10. 10
    True / false

    This answer is correct: 'Are you going to apply?' — 'I'd like to, but I don't think I'll have time.'

    Answer: True'I'd like to' is natural ellipsis: the verb after to (apply) is understood.
11. 11
    True / false

    This answer is natural: 'Will prices rise next year?' — 'I'm afraid so they will.'

    Answer: FalseSo replaces the whole clause, so nothing follows it: I'm afraid so.
12. 12
    Discussion question

    Rewrite this paragraph, removing the repetition with substitution and ellipsis: 'Tom said he would help us move. He didn't help us move. Anna didn't promise to help us move, but Anna helped us move.'

    Sample answer: Tom said he would help us move, but he didn't. Anna hadn't promised to, but she did.