一、省略句分類：句中結構的省略

1. 簡單句的省略

a) 名詞所有格之后的省略
He is going to his uncle's (house).

b) 含there be結構中的省略
(Is there) Anything wrong?

c) 獨立主格結構中的分詞如為being或having been時的省略
The examination (being) over, we all left the school.

d) 不定式的省略

①并列的不定式

Her job is to take care of the elders and (to) wash their clothes.

②為避免重復，作某些動詞hope, want等賓語或tell, order, ask的賓補時，省略不定式短語，只保留不定式符號to.

The child wanted to play in the street, but her mother told her not to.
（ 此句中 not to 后省略了和上文相重復的play in the street.）

③感官動詞see, hear, feel, notice, hear或使役動詞let, make, have,等后跟不定式作賓補時省略to.
I saw the girl cross the street.
I had my father repair my bike.
注意：當感官動詞與使役動詞用于被動時，需恢復to的省略。如：The girl was seen to cross the street.

④有had better, would rather, can't but 或Why not等句型后面直接跟動詞原形，實際上是接省to的不定式。
You had better tell me the truth.
I could not but (to) laugh at him.
Why not go and ask the teacher for help?

⑤在回答問句及其它形式的答語中，如有和上文重復的不定式時，在答語中只保留其不定式符號to，而把動詞和其它部分省略。
— Would you like to come to dinner tonight?
— I'd like to. But I'm too busy. （ 此句中的I'd like to 后省略了come to dinner tonight.）

e) 介詞（或介詞短語）的省略

①動名詞前面的介詞in在一定條件下常被省略
We spent a large sum of money (in) building the mansion.
而當spend money in doing sth. 結構用于被動語態(tài)時in不能省略
A large sum of money was spent in building the mansion.

②near或opposite作形容詞表示“在…的附近”或“在…對面”時后接的介詞to可省略
It is near (to) the airport, opposite (to) the supermarket.

③of +形容詞+名詞作補語表示大小、年齡、形狀、顏色或價格時of常被省略
We are (of) the same age, I suppose.

④含有side, height, length, size, shape等慣用語前介詞on有時可被省略
Try to keep your discourse (on) this side of 3000 words.

⑤有些動詞、名詞、形容詞習慣搭配介詞短語, 在以what, when, how, whether, that出現的從句或不定式短語之前有時被省略介詞短語as to.
Be careful (as to) how you do that.

f) 同源賓語的省略
同源賓語的修飾語是形容詞最高級或含有最高級意義時可以省去該同源賓語
During the football match, the fans all shouted their loudest (shout).
She sang her sweetest (song).

g) 英語中慣用的省略句型
即，What/How about后只跟名詞、代詞或動名詞（短語），以及感嘆句中的省略現象。
How about the two of us taking a walk down the garden?
What a beautiful view (it is)!

2. 并列句中的省略

a) 并列句的省略是最常見的，一般說來，在后一并列句中凡是與上文相同的成分通常都會被省略。
To some smile is very easy, and to others (smile is) so hard.

b) 簡單句的并列結構中也常有省略的做法
We may go there by train or (by) air.

c) 并列平行結構有時會出現在狀語從句中
As families move away from their stable community, their friends of many years, their extended family relationships, the informal flow of information is cut off, and with it the confidence that information will be available when needed and will be trustworthy and reliable.
（此句中，前一個分句帶一個As引導的狀語從句，狀語從句中 move away from 后為并列平行結構，their…，their…，their…在and后的分句中，the confidence后省略了is cut off.）

3. 復合句中的省略

a) 復合句中從句的句尾和主句相重復時從句的句尾部分可省掉
Mary is going to sweep the floor because Alice won't (sweep the floor).

b) 含有定語從句的復合句

①定語從句中可以省略作賓語的關系代詞；非正式文體中，也可省略關系副詞when或why.
I shall never forget the day (when) I entered TV University.
I like the film for the very reason (why) you dislike it.

②關系代詞as后面的主謂結構也可省略
He gave the same answer as (he had given) before.

c) 含有賓語從句的復合句

①在兩個并列的that從句如主動詞及其賓語、表語、狀語等都一樣時可將第二個that從句的主動詞及隨帶成份省略。
I guess Lisa will dance in the party but Jane won't (dance in the party).

②在兩個并列的that從句如主語相同，而謂語不同，可把第二個that從句的連詞和主語一起省略。
Tell Peter that I'll call to see him and (that I 'll ) have talk with him.

③在兩個并列從句如連詞不同而其它成份相同時，可省略第一分句和第二分句相同的部分，只把兩個連詞連接起來。
Her parents don't know when (she was born) and where she was born.

④在以某些形容詞或過去分詞，如：sure, glad, certain, pleased, happy, afraid, surprised, satisfied的詞所引導的賓語從句中，連詞that可省略。
We aren't sure which the best is.
I was very pleased my friend had passed the exam.

⑤在以which, when, where, how和why引導的賓語從句中，其謂語與主句謂語相同時省略全部謂語，有時甚至主語也可省略，只保留一個w h～的詞。
He can't go to school, but I don't know why (he can't go to school).

d) 含有狀語從句的復合句
狀語從句中的省略原則是，如主語與主句主語一致，或主語是it，可省略從句的連接詞、主語和be助動詞，只保留分詞和其它成分，從而使語言更加簡潔明了。

①京戲時間狀語從句中的省略
I favor English when (I was) a pupil.

②地點狀語從句中的省略
The river is clean where (it is) deep.

③讓步狀語從句中的省略
Although (she was) the youngest of the group, she won all the prizes.

④方式狀語從句中的省略
The baby closed his eyes as if ( he were ) to sleep.

⑤條件狀語從句中的省略
She won't come unless (she is) invited.

⑥原因狀語從句中的省略
(If we were) Given more attention, the plants could have grown better.

⑦比較狀語從句中的省略
You can play the game just as wonderfully as I (do).
在以than和as引導的比較結構的狀語從句中，省略某些與主句相同的成分或在特定上下文中有某些不言而喻的成分，可省掉整個as/than從句。
The pianos in the other shop will be cheaper (than those in this shop), but (they are) not as good (as those in this shop).

⑧狀語從句中并列結構的省略
在復合句中，如兩個并列的狀語從句只是從屬連詞不同，其它相同時，則可省略一個狀語從句，而把兩個從屬連詞連接起來。
They will be arriving either before (the film begins) or after the film begins.

e) 虛擬語氣條件句中if的省略
與If引導的條件從句中含有were, had時，可將if省略，并用倒裝結構。
Were I you, I wouldn't go with him.

二、結論

“省略”不僅是一種以無為有的表達方法，更是一種簡便至極, 雖無勝有的修辭手段。 大文豪莎士比亞有句名言：Brevity is the soul of wit. 意為：“言以簡潔為貴”。 尤其對學習語言并以此為樂的英語學員們來說甚有同感！“簡潔”二字并非簡潔，而真要做到“簡”得恰到好處、“潔”得恰如其分，省略法的研究與掌握是勢在必行且樂在其中的事。