Chinese grammar - Ellipsis - dropping parts of a sentence

Ellipsis - dropping parts of a sentence

It is very common in Chinese to drop either the subject, or the object, or both when it is clear from the context of the conversation. This is called 'ellipsis'.

It is especially used in response to a question that provides the immediate context.

The use of ellipsis makes sentences concise and directly to the point, which is very typical in spoken Chinese.

Examples:
	你喜欢这个电影吗？喜欢。 nǐ xǐhuān zhè ge diànyǐng ma?#xǐhuān. Do you like this movie? Yes, (I) like (it). In the response both 我 and 这个电影 are dropped
	你会说中文吗？会。 nǐ huì shuō zhōngwén ma?#huì. Can you speak Chinese? Yes, (I) can (speak it). In the response both 我 and 说中文 are dropped
	你要去学校吗？要。 nǐ yào qù xuéxiào ma?#yào. Are you going to school? Yes, (I) am (going).
	你吃苹果吗？吃。 nǐ chī píngguǒ ma?#chī. Do you eat apples? Yes, (I) do (eat them).
	你看书吗？看。 nǐ kàn shū ma?#kàn. Do you read books? Yes, (I) read (them).
	你去公园吗？去。 nǐ qù gōngyuán ma?#qù. Are you going to the park? Yes, (I) am (going).
	你跑步吗？跑。 nǐ pǎobù ma?#pǎo. Do you run? Yes, (I) run.
	你喝咖啡吗？喝。 nǐ hē kāfēi ma?#hē. Do you drink coffee? Yes, (I) drink (it).
	你看电视吗？看。 nǐ kàn diànshì ma?#kàn. Do you watch TV? Yes, (I) watch (it).
	你写作业吗？写。 nǐ xiě zuòyè ma?#xiě. Are you doing your homework? Yes, (I) am doing (it).
	你去过中国吗？去过。 nǐ qù guò zhōngguó ma?#qù guò. Have you been to China? Yes, (I) have been (there).
	你听过这首歌吗？听过。 nǐ tīng guò zhè shǒu gē ma?#tīng guò. Have you heard this song? Yes, (I) have heard (it).
	你玩过这个游戏吗？玩过。 nǐ wán guò zhè ge yóuxì ma?#wán guò. Have you played this game? Yes, (I) have played (it).
	你读过那本书吗？读过。 nǐ dú guò nà běn shū ma?#dú guò. Have you read that book? Yes, (I) have read (it).
	你试过那个吗？试过。 nǐ shì guò nà ge ma?#shì guò. Have you tried that? Yes, (I) have tried (it). 试 (shì) means 'try'
	你坐过飞机吗？坐过。 nǐ zuò guò fēijī ma?#zuò guò. Have you taken a plane? Yes, (I) have taken (it).
	你喝过中国茶吗？喝过。 nǐ hē guò zhōngguó chá ma?#hē guò. Have you drunk Chinese tea? Yes, (I) have drunk (it).
	你学过法语吗？学过。 nǐ xué guò fáyǔ ma?#xué guò. Have you studied French? Yes, (I) have studied (it). 法 (fǎ) shifts to second tone (fá) before a third tone, as in 法语 (fáyǔ)
	你去过北京吗？去过。 nǐ qù guò běijīng ma?#qù guò. Have you been to Beijing? Yes, (I) have been (there).