在一个句子中，省略可分为依赖上下文省略和不依赖上下文省略两种。前者省略的部分可在句子中找到，但后者可能找不到。

A．　 简单句中的省略

1．依赖上下文的省略，在对话中最为常用。

　 Like more beer 再要点啤酒吗？(= Would you like more beer)

　 - Would you mind if I used your telephone 用一下你的电话，你介意吗？

　 - Not at all. 一点也不。(= I do not mind at all.)

　 - Will he pass this examination他这次考试会通过吗？

　 - Probably. 大概会的。(= He will probably pass the examination.)

　 提示：

　 被省略的部分一般可以根据上下文在句子中补上，但有时省略结构已经定型，如果把省略部分补上，反而显得累赘或不合乎习惯。

　 An hour in the morning is worth two in the evening. 一日之计在于晨。(在two后补上hours显得罗嗦。)

　 It is now ten to seven. 现在七点十分。(如说It is now ten minutes to seven o'clock. 显得累赘)

　 No parking. 禁止停车。(= No parking is allowed here. 告示用语，补上不合乎习惯。)

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！

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)

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)

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.)

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.)

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.)

　 Take care! 当心！(= You take care.)

　 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。

8．引导词there的省略

　 (There) Ought to be some coffee in the pot. 壶里应该有些咖啡的。

　 (There) Must be somebody waiting for you. 肯定有人在等你。

B．　 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。

7．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

6．不定式符号的省略

　 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。