What is an elliptical construction?

Definition
	An elliptical construction is a construction that lacks an element that is recoverable or inferable from the context.

Example (English)
	In the following construction, you are is understood, as in Fire when you are ready. Fire when ready.

Generic
	An elliptical construction is a kind of
	What is a construction?

Sources
	Pei and Gaynor 1954 65
	Quirk, Greenbaum, Leech, and Svartvik 1985 900, 904, 910
	Crystal 1985 107–108

Context for this page:

Concept module: elliptical construction
In overview module: Glossary (Linguistics): E
In modular book: Glossary of linguistic terms, by Eugene E. Loos (general editor), Susan Anderson (editor), Dwight H., Day, Jr. (editor), Paul C. Jordan (editor), and J. Douglas Wingate (editor)
In bookshelf: Linguistics

This page is an extract from the LinguaLinks Library, Version 5.0 published on CD-ROM by SIL International, 2003. [Ordering information.]

Page content last modified: 5 January 2004

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