FluencyLab
GrammarHub
Avoid unnecessary repetition by omitting recoverable words or replacing them with auxiliaries, so/not, one/ones and do so.
Overview
Avoid unnecessary repetition by omitting recoverable words or replacing them with auxiliaries, so/not, one/ones and do so.
Form and rules
Auxiliary substitution: I can attend, but she can't; the repeated verb phrase is omitted.
Do/does/did can replace a repeated simple-tense verb phrase: He works harder than I do.
So/not can replace that-clauses after certain verbs: I think so; I hope not.
One/ones replace countable nouns: the blue one, the cheaper ones.
Do so can replace a more formal action phrase when the same action is recoverable: Please submit the form; you can do so online.
A closer look
One/ones replace countable nouns: the blue one, the cheaper ones.
Do so can replace a more formal action phrase when the same action is recoverable: Please submit the form; you can do so online.
Examples
I haven't seen it, but Ana has.
She earns more than I do.
Will it rain? I hope not.
I prefer the smaller one.
Applicants may withdraw; they can do so at any time.
Common mistakes
Can't substitutes for can't join the call.
Do substitutes for the repeated simple verb travel.
Ready to practise?
The test combines multiple choice, gap completion, error correction, and sentence building so students have to recognise and produce the grammar, not simply reread the rule.