Crossword: Elliptical forms in English

Elliptical forms are a hallmark of sophisticated English, allowing speakers to omit words that are grammatically recoverable from context. From reduced relative clauses to gapped constructions and stranded auxiliaries, these structures demand both precision and intuition. Test your mastery of these advanced omissions and see how well you can identify what’s been left unsaid.

Grid

Fill in the grid: pick a square, read the clue and type your answer.

Clues

Across

1. Was not in short form
2. Used sarcastically when upset
4. Logical connection maintained despite omissions
8. Simple and easy to understand
9. Process of making a form shorter
10. Belonging to them
11. Expression natural to native speakers
12. Shortened form of a word or phrase
16. Removing all but one element in clause
17. Answer that omits repeated information

Down

1. from which place or source
3. Verb form indicating time of action
5. Dropping sounds at word boundaries
6. Shortened form combining two words
7. Incomplete sentence missing a main clause
8. Part of sentence often omitted in ellipsis
13. Of short duration
14. Containing nothing, opposite of full
15. Not clean, opposite of pure

Answers

Show the answers

Across

1. Was not in short form → wasnt
2. Used sarcastically when upset → great
4. Logical connection maintained despite omissions → coherence
8. Simple and easy to understand → plain
9. Process of making a form shorter → reduction
10. Belonging to them → their
11. Expression natural to native speakers → idiomatic
12. Shortened form of a word or phrase → abbreviated
16. Removing all but one element in clause → stripping
17. Answer that omits repeated information → reply

Down

1. from which place or source → whence
3. Verb form indicating time of action → tense
5. Dropping sounds at word boundaries → elision
6. Shortened form combining two words → contraction
7. Incomplete sentence missing a main clause → fragment
8. Part of sentence often omitted in ellipsis → predicate
13. Of short duration → brief
14. Containing nothing, opposite of full → empty
15. Not clean, opposite of pure → dirty

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Syntactic ambiguities in English : complete course Syntactic constraints in English : complete course Stylistic effects in English : complete course