省略大致可归纳为功能词的省略，句子成分的省略，以及替代省略三种。
一、功能词或单词省略
功能词指的是没有完整意义，但有语法意义的词，如冠词、介词、助动词等。英语句子结构的简洁，首先表现在功能词的省略上。
1．冠词的省略
They elected John (the) monitor of the class. 他们选约翰当班长。
A man and (a) woman are talking in the office. 办公室一男一女正在谈话。
提示：在英语新闻标题、告示中，经常省略冠词。
Chinese President Stresses Role of Working Class 中国国家主席强调工人阶级作用
（新闻标题 = The Chinese President Stresses the Role of the Working Class）
DO NOT SPEAK TO DRIVER WHILE BUS IS IN MOTION 汽车在行驶时请勿和司机讲话。（告示 = Do not speak to the driver while the bus is in motion）
2．代词的省略
I went to the market, (I) bought something useful, and (I) returned home within an hour. 我去了市场，买了点有用的东西，一小时之内就回来了。
They didn't like it, yet (they) said nothing. 他们并不喜欢它，可是什么话也没说。
(It) Doesn't matter. 这不碍事。
I like your two small bottles, but I don't like the smallest (one). 我喜欢你的两只小瓶子，但我不喜欢最小的那一只。
3．连词的省略
①引导宾语从句的连词that在口语中常常省略,或并列的宾语从句中的第一个连词that也能省略.例如:
We are delighted (that) you can come. 你能来，我们很高兴。
I believe (that) you will succeed．我相信你们会成功的。
He said (that)he had come here an hour before and that he had lived in a hotel.
②在定语从句中作宾语,且其前没有介词的关系代词,或先行词为way或time等时,常省略关系代词.例如:
Do you still remember the name of the company ______ we visited last month?
A. whose B. as C.\ D. where
I don't like ______ you speak to her.
A. the way B. the way in that C. the way which D. the way of which
4．关系词的省略
I'll give you all (that) I have. 我要把我所有的一切都给你。
He read the book (which) I got yesterday. 他看过我昨天买的书了。
It wasn't I (who) let him in. 不是我放他进来的。
It happened on the day (when) we first met. 这发生在我们初次见面的那一天。
There is a man (who) wants to see you. 有个人想要见你。
5．助动词的省略
(Does) Anyone want a drink? 有谁要喝一杯吗？
Who (do) you think you are? 你以为你是谁？（在特殊疑问句中，当主语是第二人称时，助动词do可省略）
I (have) got to go now. 我得走了。
6．不定式符号的省略
1）I hope to finish my job and (to) go back home. 我希望做完事回家。（当几个不定式并列时，一般只需在第一个不定式前用to）
What we could do was (to) get away. （主语从句中含有do，那么作表语的动词不定式往往省略to）
We did not dare (to) speak. 我们不敢说话。（dare作行为动词用时，否定式可省略to）
There is nothing to do but (to) obey the orders. 除了服从命令之外，我们别无他法。（介词but前如有do，but后可省略to）
注意：
当两个并列的不定式在意义上表示对比关系时，后面的不定式一般不省略to。
To be or not to be, that is the question. 活着还是死亡，这就是问题所在。（莎士比亚）
It was better to laugh than to cry. 笑比哭好。
2）关于to省略的固定结构
①四看(see watch, notice, look at),二听(hear, listen to),一感觉(feel),以及let, make, help,还有have之后的作宾补的不定式,但其被动语态中的to不能省略.例如:
Though he had made his little sister cry, today he was made to cry by his little sister.
②词组do nothing but...,can't help but...,prefer to do sth. rather than do sth...., would do sth. rather than...,why not....等不定式中的to.例如:
Rather than ______ on a crowded bus,he always prefers ______ a bicycle.
A. ride; ride B. riding; ride C. ride; to ride D. to ride; riding
3）在下面四种情形下,为了避免重复,常承前省略不定式后的内容,但要保留不定式符号to.
①作hope, wish, like, want, expect, decide, mean, intend, refuse, try, need等宾语的不定式.例如:
-Will the Browns go abroad this summer?
-No. They finally decided .
A. to B. not to C. not going D. not go
②作tell, ask, want, expect, warn等宾语补足语的不定式.例如:
The boy wanted to ride his bicycle in the street but his mother told him ______ .
A. not to B. not to do C. not do it D. do not do
③在某些形容词,如:happy, glad, ready, anxious, eager, willing等后作状语的不定式.例如:
-I'll be away on a business trip. Would you mind looking after my cat?
-Not at all, ______ .
A. I've no time B. I'd rather not C. I'd like D. I'd be happy to
④在某些结构,如:be able to, be going to be about to, ought to, have to ,used to等后作复合谓语的不定式.例如:
-Alice, why didn't you come yesterday?
-I ______ ,but I had an unexpected visitor.
A. had B. would C. was going to D. did
7.表虚拟的名词性从句中should的省略
①一坚持(insist),二命令(order, command),三建议(suggest, propose, advise ),四要求(demand, require, request, ask)后的主语、宾语从句中.例如:
Jane's pale face suggested that she______ill and her parents suggested that she ______ a medical examination.
A. be; should have B. was; have C. should be; had D. was; has
②一个主意(idea),一个计划(plan),一个命令(order),三个建议(suggest, proposal, advice)等后的表语、同位语从句中.例如:
The suggestion has been made that the football game ______ put off.
A. should B. will be C. be D. has been
③It is necessary(important, impossible, strange, natural, a pity, no wonder) that...主语从句中.例如:
It is necessary that the problem ______ at once.
A. solves B. should solve C. will be solved D. be solved
8.虚拟条件句中,含助动词,情态动词,动词be或have等,若将它们提到句首,则须省略if。例如:
______ it rain tomorrow ,we would have to put off the visit to the Yangpu Bridge.
A. Were B. Should C. Would D. Will
9．介词的省略
He went (in) that way. 他往那边去了。
The two boys are (of) the same age. 这两个男孩年龄一样大。
I am in doubt (about) whether this is right or not. 我拿不定主意这对不对。
You may come to see me (at) any time between 4 and 5. 你在4点到5点之间随时都可以来见我。
She must have stayed here (for) a long time. 她在这里一定呆了很久了。
必背：在下列结构中，介词in常常省略。
be busy (in) doing sth. 忙于做某事
spend time (in) doing sth. 花时间做某事
waste energy (in) doing sth. 浪费精力做某事
have difficulty (in) doing sth. 做某事有困难
have a good time (in) doing sth. 某事做得非常愉快
have a hard time (in) doing sth. 某事做得很艰难
take turns (in) doing sth. 轮流做某事
It is no use (in) doing sth. 做某事没有用
It is no good (in) doing sth. 做某事无益
There is no hurry (in) doing sth. 不必着急做某事
There is no point (in) doing sth. 做某事无意义
There is no use (in) doing sth. 做某事没有用
二、句子成分的省略
为了避免重复，或者为了使某一内容显要注目，可以省略某些句子成分而保持句子原意不变。
1．省略主语
Hope so. 希望如此。（= I hope so.）
Beg your pardon. 请你原谅。（= I beg your pardon.）
Looks as if it will rain. 看起来像要下雨。（= It looks as if it will rain.）
Serves you right. 你活该！（= It serves you right.）
注意：祈使句主语通常省略（如Take care! 当心！）。但有时为了明确对方，可加上主语。
You feed the bird today, will you? 今天你喂鸟，好吗？
Somebody answer the phone, please. 请来个人接一下电话。
2．省略谓语
Anything the matter？要紧吗？（= Is anything the matter?）
Who next? 该谁了？（= Who comes next?）
Just a moment, please. 请等一会儿。（= Just wait a moment, please.）
The river was deep and the ice thin. 河很深，冰很薄。（= The river was deep and the ice was thin.）
We'll do the best we can. 我们将尽力而为。（= We'll do the best we can do.）
What we can't get seems better than what we have. 我们得不到的似乎要比我们已经得到的要好。（= What we can't get seems better than what we have got.）
3．省略表语
Are you ready? Yes, I am. 你准备好了吗？ 我准备好了。（am后面省略了表语ready）He is a lover of sports as he was in his youth. 他还是像年轻时那样，是一位运动爱好者。（was后面省略了表语a lover of sports）
China has been, and still is, the most populous country in the world. 中国过去是，而且现在还是世界上人口最多的国家。 （= China has been the most populous country in the world and still is the most populous country in the world.）
4．省略宾语
We have to analyze and solve problems. 我们必须分析问题解决问题。（analyze后省略了宾语problems）
I struck match after match, but could not light. 我划了一根又一根火柴，但一根也没划着。（light后省略了宾语a match）
Let's do the dishes. I'll wash and you'll dry. 让我们洗碗吧，我来洗，你来揩干。（wash和dry后面省略了宾语dishes）
5．省略定语
He spent part of the money, and the rest he saved. 他花了一部分钱，其余的他都存了起来。（the rest后面省略了定语of the money）
6．省略状语
(Even) The wisest man cannot know everything. 即使最聪明的人也不能无所不知。
Mary spoke (rudely), and John answered rudely. 玛丽说得粗鲁，约翰答得也粗鲁。
He was not hurt. (How) Strange! 他没有受伤，真奇怪！
注意：在时间、条件、地点、让步、方式等状语从句中,若谓语为be,主语同主句主语一致或主语为it时,常省略主、谓语.需要注意的是,谓语为实意动词时,若其与省略的主语间为主谓关系时,则用现在分词;若为动宾关系,则用过去分词。例如:
Please send for a doctor as soon as(it is)possible.
If ______ the same treatment again, he's sure to get well.
A. give B. giving C. given D. being given
三、替代省略
1.think,believe,suppose,expect,imagine,hope等与so连用,替代肯定的宾语从句;与not连用,替代否定的宾语从句。例如:
-Do you think it's going to rain over the weekend?
- ______ .
A.I don't believe B.I don't believe it C.I believe not to D.I believe not
2."So / Nor(Neither)+谓语+主语"这种句型是用来替代前面提到的情况,表明它也适用于后者。例如:
-I don't think I can walk any further.
- ______ . Let's stop here for a rest.
A. Neither am I B. Neither can I C.I don't think so D.I think so
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