The Communicative Grammar of English Workbook - Edward Woods, Rudy Coppieters 2002

9.4. Substitutes for structures containing a verb
Unit nine. Linking

Sections 383-385; 479; 482

The dummy auxiliary do can act as a substitute for the whole of a clause apart from the subject.

Other auxiliaries can be used in a similar way. That is, you can omit the whole or part of a sentence following an auxiliary.

Be as a main verb cannot be omitted after an auxiliary.

The main verb do acts a substitute for a main verb, normally a verb denoting some action or activity. Do requires an object which may be it, that or so.

Task one *

Complete the short answers to the following questions.

1. Who wants to go to the cinema? I (positive)/I (negative)

2. Did you finish the essay last night? Yes, I ...

3. Will you get a ticket for Tom? I already ...

4. Is Joan coming to the party? I don’t know. She may ..., she ... not

5. Did Terry get the job? No, he ...

6. Will you be able to meet Fred on Friday? Of course, I ...

7. Have you read Amis’s new book? Yes, I ...

8. Do you like our new millennium bridge? No, I ...

9. Who was responsible for all the disturbance last night? She ...

10. Who can deliver this parcel for me? He ...

Task two **

Rewrite the sentences below with an appropriate substitution for the part underlined.

1. John will come with us to the theatre if Susan will come with us to the theatre.

2. He might get the job, but I don’t think he will get the job.

3. That is something I can’t tell you, but he can tell you.

4. Is Harold Pinter our greatest playwright? Yes, he is our greatest playwright.

5. Why didn’t you tell me? I’m sorry. I know I should have told you.

6. Why don’t you sit down? Why should I sit down?

7. Is it possible to buy stamps in that shop? It might be possible to buy stamps in that shop.

8. She got the travel brochure for hotels in Australia, but she didn’t get the travel brochure for the hotels in Singapore.

9. If you haven’t finished the work by now, you should have finished the work by now.

10. Are you going to invite Michael to your party? I could invite Michael to my party, but I don’t want to invite Michael to my party. He always quarrels with people.

Task three **

Complete the sentences below with do that, do it, or do so, etc.

1. A: He told them he didn’t like going there. B: Why did he ...?

2. If they invite you to join them at their country house, you should ... It’s a wonderful place.

3. He’ll ask you to work late, but don’t ... You’ll simply be seen as an easy touch and you’ll get no thanks.

4. A: They say he turned down the job. B: Why should he ...? It’s stupid.

5. He’s promised to come next week. If he ..., it’ll be the first time he’s been here in years.

6. Go and see your aunt while you’re in London. To ... will cost you nothing and give her a lot of pleasure.

7. It won’t help if I do the work for you. In any case, why should I ...? You’ve never done anything for me.

8. Give up teaching! Why ...? I thought you loved the job, and everyone say you’re a wonderful teacher.

9. So you want to spend the next two years just travelling round the world. Well, in order to ..., you’ll need to work hard now and save all your money. We can’t help you.

To continue doing research, you’ll need to get a very good degree. To ..., you’ll have to

10. work much harder than you do now.