Sequence of tenses, pro-forms and ellipsis

In English, the relation between the introductory clause and the subordinate clause is decisive for the time relation. Unlike in Czech where the introductory clause is irrelevant to indicate time relation. Especially conditional sentences and reported speech require a specific sequence of tenses.

                              bude mít                                                                   will be

Petr říká, že        má                  žízeň.                    Peter says he        is                 thirsty.

                             měl                                                                               was

                             bude mít                                                                  would be

Petr říkal, že       má                  žízeň.                  Peter said he         was               thirsty.

                              měl                                                                            had been

Pro-forms

A pro-form (basically substitution) is a type of function word or expression that expresses the same content as another word, phrase, clause whose meaning is recoverable from the context. Pro-form is used to avoid repetition. Pro-form is a word with a general meaning which can be used to stand for any word of a certain kind when the context makes it clear what is meant.

I drive a car, my sister does too. When children entered, each got a chocolate. I went to Paris and my brother went there too. I'm afraid so. I don't think so. I hope not.

Ellipsis

Ellipsis is the omission of elements which are recoverable from the linguistic context or the situation.

Types of ellipsis:

Initial - He squeezed her hand but <he> met with no response.

Medial - He and his mate both jumped out, he <jumped out> to go to the women, his mate <jumped out> to stop other traffic on the bridge.

Final - Perhaps, as the review gathers steam, this can now change. It needs to <change>.

Textual ellipsis - the missing words can be found in the nearby text, avoiding unnecessary repetition.

My camera, like Peter's (camera), is Chinese.

Question-answer sequences - Have you got an extra exam on Monday? <I've got> Two exams <on Monday>.

Situational ellipsis - the missing words are clear from the situation in which language is used.

  *** Saw Susan and her boyfriend in Alder weeks ago. See you later. (I'll see you later.) Want some?

Structural ellipsis - the missing words can be understood from grammatical structure of the sentence.

I believe (that) you are mistaken. He went left but (he) forgot to lock to door.