Is Ella staying for dinner? Yes I think she will be. Is Ella staying for dinner? Yes I think she will. Is Ella staying for dinner? Yes I think she is staying for dinner. Where the verb to be is the auxiliary verb in the previous sentence, we can use a modal verb with or without be and the second sentence is shortened to either of the two examples below. I am not walking up the mountain, but my brother is. I am not walking up the mountain, but my brother is walking up the mountain. Where the verb to be is the main verb in the previous sentence, we repeat a form of the verb be in the second sentence 'Do you think she has a chance of coming first?' 'Yes she has.' 4. 'Do you think she has a chance of coming first?' 'Yes I do.' 'Do you think she has a chance of coming first?' 'Yes I do think she has a chance of coming first.'Ĭould become either of these more concise versions Where 'have' is the auxiliary verb in the first sentence, either 'to have' or 'to do' are used as the auxiliary verb in the second sentence 'I now run faster than he does.' 'Of course you do.' 3. 'I now run faster than he does.' 'Of course you run faster than he does.' Where there is no auxiliary verb in the first sentence or there is a form of the auxiliary do, 'to do' is used as the auxiliary verb for the second sentence Where 2 auxiliary verbs are used, the shortened form can use either the first or both in the second sentenceĬinderella hadn't been invited to the ball, but her ugly sisters had been invited to the ball.Ĭinderella hadn't been invited to the ball, but her ugly sisters had.Ĭinderella hadn't been invited to the ball, but her ugly sisters had been. In a longer expression, instead of repeating two verbs, we might use an auxiliary verb on its own in the second sentence or phrase. Leaving words out after auxiliary verbs: Explanation and use We have the grammar rules and a few exercises for you. In example 2 the auxiliary verb 'are' remains in the second sentence but the second verb 'singing' has been removed leaving the sentence group more concise. We use the auxiliary verb 'are' (to be) with 'singing' in the sentence group below but in example 1 the second sentence is too long and cumbersome.

Leaving out words after an auxiliary verb allows us to avoid repeating whole verb groups from previous sentences.ġ.

Modal verbs in past exercise speaking