Harvey's Elementary Grammar and Composition · Lesson 117 · Part 2: Part II: The parts of speech in full
84. Ellipsis
Goal: Your child can supply words that are left out but understood.
You'll need
- The book, open to this lesson
- Paper and a pencil (or a slate)
What's in the book
Lesson 117 defines ellipsis and shows that nearly any part of a sentence can be left out, with bracketed examples for each part of speech.
The lesson, step by step
Review
Ask: What job does a conjunction do?
Words left out
SayCome here. Ask: Who should come? "You" is left out but understood.
Read:
Ellipsis is the omission of one or more words of a sentence. The words omitted are said to be understood.
The book's examples
Read some, with the missing words in brackets:
Come [thou].
Henry has a slate and [a] pencil.
He gave [to] me an orange.
This [being] done, we resumed our journey.
Supply the words
Read:
If required in analysis or parsing, the words omitted must be supplied.
Say short sentences with words left out ("Taller than I."), and let your child fill them in ("He is taller than I am.").
Analyze one
The book's model analyzes "Forward!" as a sentence with its subject and predicate left out. Talk about what words are understood.
Use it today
Find a sentence in conversation where words were left out, and supply them.
Answers to the book's problems
Forward! = [Go] forward or [March] forward, with the subject you understood. Other answers will vary.
Worked out for this site from the scan. If a number in your copy differs, trust the book.