9.66 ellipsis in replies

When you reply to 'wh'-questions, you can often use one word or a group of words rather than a full sentence. You do this to avoid repeating words used in the question. For example, if someone asks 'What is your favourite colour?', the normal reply is a single word, for example 'Blue', rather than a sentence such as 'My favourite colour is blue'.

• 'What's your name?' --- 'Pete.'
• 'How do you feel?' --- 'Strange.'
• 'Where do you come from?' --- 'Cardiff.'
• 'Where are we going? --- 'Up the coast.'
• 'How long have you been out of this country?' --- 'About three months.'
• 'How much money is there in that case?' --- 'Six hundred pounds.'
• 'Why should they want me to know?' --- 'To scare you, perhaps. Who can tell?'

'Wh'-questions are explained in paragraphs 4.17 to 4.30.

9.67

You can often use a sentence adverb or an adverb of degree rather than a sentence in answer to a 'yes/no'-question.

• 'Do you think you could keep your mouth shut if I was to tell you something?' --- 'Definitely.'
• 'Do you think they're very important?' --- 'Maybe.'
• 'Do you enjoy life at the university?' --- 'Oh yes, very much.'
• 'Are you interested?' --- 'Very.'
• 'Are you ready, Matthew?' --- 'Not quite.'
• 'Is she sick?' --- 'Not exactly.'

'Yes/no'-questions are explained in paragraphs 4.12 to 4.16. Sentence adjuncts are listed in Chapter 10 (10.57 to 10.72). Adverbs of degree are listed in Chapter 2 (2.145 to 2.173) and Chapter 6 (6.45 to 6.52).