Representing thinking, perceiving, liking and desiring
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Using verb patterns to represent desires and needs | page 11 of 12 |
Ellipsis with desire verbs
Ellipsis refers to the omission of words from a sentence. With ellipsis, it is usually clear from the context which word or words have been left out:
These old folks have got different handicraft classes they can attend if they want to [^]. They don't have to go. Nobody makes them do it.
(Bank of English)
…if they want to [attend the handicraft classes].When asked if he was working, she snapped: "I wish [^]!" (Bank of English)
…"I wish [that he was working]!"
Note that ellipsis is possible with a relatively small number of desire verbs, mainly those verbs which are followed by the to-infinitive. However, while it is possible to say I want to [^], it is not possible to say I fear to [^].
For further information about ellipsis in general, see 
Developing cohesion: Ellipsis.
With certain verbs such as hope, it is possible to substitute a that clause with so:
It is possible that yet another unique quality of man is a capacity for genuine, disinterested, true altruism. I hope so. (Microconcord Corpus B)
I hope [that yet another unique quality of man is a capacity for genuine, disinterested, true altruism].
Not is the negative equivalent of so. Like so, it occurs with verbs such as hope:
A: Aren't people like yourselves being a little bit presumptuous and even arrogant in feeling that you can help people solve their problems in the rest of the world? B: I would hope not. (Bank of English) I would hope [that we are not being a little bit presumptuous and even arrogant in feeling that we can help people solve their problems in the rest of the world].
For further information about substitution, see Developing
cohesion: Substitution (p 5).
Ellipsis with desire verbs
