Questions tagged [omissibility]
For questions about leaving out words or punctuation marks and how such omissions affect the meaning of clauses or sentences.
57
questions
8
votes
2answers
380 views
If it isn't [someone's name]!
"If it isn't [a name]!" can be used to show surprise when you bump into someone, but it is not a complete sentence. What is omitted (and understood) here?
I'd appreciate your help.
0
votes
1answer
50 views
Can you omit only a subject following “as long as?”
Can you leave a subject following “as long as” out, keeping the verb followed alive?
I can read it aloud for you as long as it is in English.
So you can watch any movies as long as they have ...
2
votes
1answer
79 views
The “that” elimination problem
The sentence
I marveled that you chuckled that I said "juxtaposition".
suffers from "that" overload. We'd all agree.
It's easy to slim either 'that'. Hence either
I marveled you chuckled that I ...
5
votes
1answer
80 views
Since and for, where can they be omitted?
I’m well aware of the difference between ‘since’ and ‘for’. However I have a question.
Imagine I say ‘I’ve been working on the essay since Saturday’ or ‘I’ve been working on the essay for two days’. ...
1
vote
0answers
42 views
Omitting whose in relative clauses [closed]
I know object defining relative pronouns can be omitted. But I cannot figure out whether whose is object or subject of the sentences.
0
votes
2answers
64 views
how to understand this sentence “unbelievably slow in appreciating their good fortune in ruling the country…”? [on hold]
Here are two consecutive paragraphs from The Adventure of English by Melvyn Bragg:
The extensive range of what I would call “almost synonyms” became one
of the glories of the English language, ...
0
votes
0answers
19 views
Do I have to use “that” in this sentence? [duplicate]
Do i need to use the "that" between brackets in this sentence or can I simply leave it out?
"I was happy to read [THAT] there will be a variety of projects to work on in different industries"
Thank ...
0
votes
1answer
83 views
commas/ omitting “which is”
In the passage below, shouldn't the writer have included which is before the word championed, since it is in a non-defining clause?
In seeking to describe the origins of theater, one must rely ...
3
votes
3answers
101 views
Article before nouns in the appositive phrase?
Here are two examples:
Nobody creates post-apocalyptic flicks better than George Miller, the director of the Mad Max series.
Is the necessary before director, and can it be omitted?
The business ...
0
votes
0answers
33 views
Is 'alternative mobilities' a correct way to refer to car/bike sharing?
Instead of alternative mobility services (referring to car-sharing, bike-sharing and others) does alternative mobilities make sense?
What can be a synonym of service or an alternative way of saying?
0
votes
1answer
30 views
differentiate `to+verb` from `verb` in the context of a list
He gives wisdom and knowledge to enable his children to understand and see the invisible.
He gives wisdom and knowledge to enable his children to understand and to see the invisible.
Sometimes I ...
1
vote
1answer
107 views
How to omit lines when quoting a play
I am citing the play All My Sons in an essay I am writing.
I don't want to have a lot of unnecessary content in my quotes and I am not too familiar with quoting plays, so I want to ask how I should ...
2
votes
0answers
122 views
What do we call the process of dropping the subject at the beginning of a sentence?
In casual conversation I've been noticing this more and more in my own speaking as well as others. The subject will be missing from the beginning of the sentence and instead it's inferred as the ...
1
vote
1answer
68 views
Do I need to include “the” for each item in a text sequence
Can anyone please tell me that which is more appealing:
• My industrial collaborations at the national and the international levels.
• My industrial collaborations at the national and ...
0
votes
1answer
437 views
When can I omit the subject?
Can I omit the subject if it has been mentioned in a preceding sentence?
For example, is the phrase inside the parentheses necessary in the below?:
The sculpture A exhibits degradation at a ...
0
votes
0answers
25 views
Is it gramatically correct to omit the preposition “on” when talking about events occuring on a certain day? [duplicate]
I'm taking this online course on technical writing. It suggests that you can omit "on" from
The meeting happened on Monday
to turn it to
The meeting happened Monday
The second one seems wrong ...
1
vote
2answers
58 views
Can I omit the “is” in “a lower price than is actually intended to be charged”? [closed]
I came across the following sentence when I looked up the meaning of "low-ball".
The low-ball is a persuasion and selling technique in which an item or service is offered at a lower price than is ...
2
votes
0answers
153 views
What do you think about “Sorry.” as a complete sentence? or What are your thoughts on subject omission? [duplicate]
I've been poring over materials on Japanese (日本語) and found it common of them to contrast the language with English in saying that pronominal subjects can be —and typically are, as with 私は (Watashi ha,...
1
vote
1answer
53 views
Confusion in the usage of the conjunction word “that”
I read an article on the National Geographic website:
In this sentence:
We reach the water and I try to swim – but the water is so salty I just float on the surface.
Cannot we use "that" ...
1
vote
0answers
60 views
Articles- Please remove card
Omission of articles is often, in my opinion, quite confusing, as they are often omitted in cases I'd find them needed. I know that some of it might just be for simplicity sake- teachers can't always ...
0
votes
3answers
2k views
Which Sunday do you prefer, if Sunday is OK with you?
Which Sunday do you prefer, if Sunday is OK with you?
Is the above sentence grammatically correct and natural? I'd like answers both from BrE and AmE speakers.
Sorry for my short, abrupt question. ...
0
votes
1answer
272 views
When can the relative pronouns “who”, “which”, “that” etc. be safely omitted? [closed]
For example, instead of
The guy who is beside me is a jerk
I can say
The guy beside me is a jerk.
It is okay if I don't use the relative pronoun here, either way is correct. But instead ...
1
vote
2answers
123 views
Using `but` as a conditional limit on a clause. Also implied or omitted `if`
I wanted to communicate the following with someone:
I would do this thing, if I could do it.
However, always trying to be clever and using amusing, possibly archaic grammar I wanted to type:
I ...
2
votes
2answers
971 views
Omit same verbs in list of clauses
First, I have to admit that I don't know a good term to refer to this case, nor do I have a concrete example. Everything is just from a vague memory. So if you can correct me or suggest a good ...
1
vote
0answers
51 views
Original form of this sentence : Our collection spans musical genres from rock and roll to opera, highlighting England's great artistic contributors
I think there is relative pronouns omitted in this sentence.
"Our collection spans musical genres from rock and roll to opera, highlighting England's great artistic contributors."
And What I want to ...
1
vote
0answers
150 views
the omission of so of so-that
In monarchical countries, the estates and the
greatest portion of the wealth are left to the first son, that the
vanity of the parent may be gratified by the thought that his name and
title are ...
0
votes
1answer
51 views
How to chain noun state in sentences
I want to say that key is absent or the value of that key is empty (comes from code)
What is a right way to write this message:
No key found or it's empty.
No key found or is empty.
1
vote
1answer
355 views
Can an objective relative pronoun replace a subjective relative pronoun?
I quite often find in New York Times that American writers often use an objective relative pronoun--or omitted it all together--where, I strongly believe, a subjective relative pronoun should be ...
1
vote
1answer
79 views
Omitting rule when I use the same verb [closed]
There are two sentences;
The graph can not be decomposed into two cycles.
The graph can be decomposed into two paths.
When I combine them, which are correct?
The graph can not be decomposed into ...
2
votes
2answers
213 views
Can we omit a duplicated preposition? [duplicate]
Is on needed a second time in this sentence?
There is a bad effect either on human health or environment.
There is a bad effect either on human health or on environment.
1
vote
1answer
67 views
Omitting the word “one”
Do these sentences mean the same? Is one preferable to the other?
I think Ben is a robot. If he is, we should not talk to him anymore.
I think Ben is a robot. If he is one, we should not talk to him ...
0
votes
2answers
321 views
Omitting the word “to”
Will omitting "to" change the meaning of these sentences?
Luffy, name one mall you've been to.
In the places you've been to, did you see any dragon balls?
1
vote
2answers
2k views
“And I you” with “you” as an indirect object
If someone says, "I want to sit with you," is the response, "And I you," acceptable? I believe a better choice would be, "And I with you," but is "with" strictly necessary or does it just add clarity?
...
0
votes
1answer
83 views
Interpreting of Omitted subject and verb [duplicate]
When you have a moment, could you please send over next Wednesday’s campaign info?
Double-checking a couple details before it goes live to make sure the client is happy!
The above sentences are ...
1
vote
2answers
110 views
Should I use “for” in this case? [closed]
Which sentence below is correct? Or, are they both wrong?
a) I hope the sign means for a good news, not a bad one.
b) I hope the sign means for a good news, not for a bad one.
1
vote
1answer
132 views
Omitting “will” from a sentence
I am writing an essay and I am not sure whether I should place "will" in this sentence or not.
The experience I will gain living in Panama will assist me in understanding how Central Americans ...
6
votes
2answers
706 views
Omitting “is” in sentences (when occurring after “that”, “this”, and “it”)
I recently added some friends to Facebook that live in a small town in Texas. The reason I point this out is that I believe it might be a regional thing.
Many people in that area omit the word "is" ...
0
votes
1answer
69 views
Annotating a quote to remove text?
In writing up an answer, I wrote:
Furthermore we are cautioned that using shame punishment from a "retributive standpoint because the public can see punishment at work, it is nonproductive."
Now, ...
0
votes
0answers
341 views
Is it possible to omit a relative pronoun as subject?
When Casals laid eyes on cello music he never knew existed....
I thought the verb 'existed' belongs to the antecedent, 'cello music', and 'he never knew' is just an embedded clause in the sentence. ...
1
vote
3answers
115 views
Has 'there' been omitted?
I want to explain my problem by the following sentence.
Among those scientists recently exploring 'terra cognita' were psychologists from the State University of New York at Stony Brook.
In that ...
0
votes
1answer
854 views
Omitting “While + subject + verb to be”? [duplicate]
" I hurt my knee playing soccer "
Is this sentence right? If yes, how come?
1
vote
0answers
50 views
Comma after introductory phrase in “As a B, I want A”? [duplicate]
Is this comma needed or allowed?
As a citizen, I think that this problem undermines the right to privacy.
Or should it be written this way instead:
As a citizen I think that this problem undermines ...
0
votes
1answer
479 views
Using the singular form of the word “subject” in a sentence
I was told today that the following sentence was incorrect because the noun "subject" is countable and therefore should have been put in the plural.
"I have to change subject every time."
However, I ...
0
votes
2answers
48k views
Is answering “Hope you had a good time!” with “I did!” correct?
If someone says to me, "Hope you had a good time!" could I then answer "I did!" and it be grammatical?
My first language is French, and I’m wondering if responding that way works in English.
0
votes
1answer
1k views
What is omitted in the following sentence? [closed]
So they had every reason to keep a good relationship and, both for that deal and in general, to just sort of keep a reputation for being honest and for dealing fairly with people."
I had a difficulty ...
3
votes
2answers
200 views
Pesky 'that' removal - what is this construction generally known as?
Recently seen:
There is an expression I think comes from ...
Others have told me (that) such a construction is wrong, but I am sure (that) it is OK.
An editor decided it was grammatically wrong ...
0
votes
1answer
481 views
The bottom graph shows the acceleration profiles, while the top the corresponding speed changes
Are the verb and noun omissions in the following sentence correct? (The words enclosed in parentheses are the omitted ones.)
The bottom graph shows the acceleration profiles, while the top (graph) (...
9
votes
4answers
2k views
Omitting “there” in a sentence
Can I omit there in the following question:
How much juice is there in the bottle?
When is it possible to omit there in a sentence?
Any references to grammar sources are welcome and expected.
0
votes
1answer
353 views
Missing that - usage [duplicate]
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/separatists-seize-control-tv-hq-east-ukraine-city-140235399.html
Pro-Russian separatists, some of them armed, have seized about a dozen official buildings in eastern ...
1
vote
2answers
185 views
Is the sentence “Format complete” wrong?
As a Windows user, I see a message box with the message: "Format complete!" when I have finished to format a drive.
According to the dictionary, complete is a verb or a adjective.
If it is a verb, ...
