• What is ellipsis?
• Examples of ellipsis

We explain what ellipsis is and how this figure of speech is used. Also, its different uses and examples in sentences.

Ellipsis consists of the omission or suppression of part of the content of a sentence.

What is ellipsis?

The term ellipsis comes from the Greek wordelleipsis and that translates "omission", and is a Figure of speech which consists of the omission or deletion of part of the content of a prayer, which, although grammatically necessary, is implicit in the context. For example: Roses are red, the sky is blue (the verb is omitted is).

It can also be used as a narrative device, insofar as important portions of the content of a work are omitted (a novel, for example, or a movie), so that the reader can deduce or infer them from what is said.

In fact, in language cinematic, ellipsis is known as the suppression of unnecessary material to tell the story, such as transfers from one setting to another, or everyday sequences that are not essential.

Similarly, in mathematical language the term ellipsis is used to refer to a specific symbol (the ellipsis) that indicate the usually indefinite or eternal repetition of a sequence, a value or a figure.

Examples of ellipsis

The ellipsis can also be used as a narrative device.

Here are some rhetorical examples of ellipsis:

• Manuel came by car, Miguel by bicycle. (The verb "come" is omitted).
• Last night we bought pizza and beers too. (The verb "buy" is omitted).
• In the garden we grow tomatoes, and cucumbers too. (The verb “cultivate” is omitted).
• We will bring the wine, you the bread, they the table. (The verb "bring" is omitted).
• Last year it rained a lot, this year not so much. (The verb "to rain" is omitted).
• The roses are red, the sky blue. (The verb to be is omitted).
• Teresa arrived with her boyfriend, not Maricarmen. (The repetition of "she arrived with her boyfriend" is omitted).
• Yesterday's movie was boring for me. Today's too. (The repetition of "I found it boring" is omitted).
• I was never good at sports, but in chess yes. ("I was good" is omitted).
• To enter the toast you must wear a jacket and tie. (The verb "use" is omitted).
• We had thirty-three million, and then thirty-five. (The verb "have" is omitted)
• I started to cook, Rodrigo to sweep and Malena to order. ("Set to" is omitted).
• Máximo is a lousy lawyer, and a pitiful professional. ("Ser" is omitted).
• Libraries are full of books and magazines too. ("They are full of" is omitted).
• I will never fly on Avianca again. I'll do it for the Cup. (The verb "to fly" is omitted).