Colloquially Shortened Sentences

Asked Jan 05 '20 at 21:34

Active Jan 05 '20 at 21:34

Viewed 21 times

Colloquially, people tend to speak in "shorter sentences" and leave out words like pronouns and verbs such as do, be and have, especially when it's clear who or what they're talking about. They might also omit whole phrases:

Do you want me to try getting the shelf off for you? -------> Want me to try?

Another example:

Are you sure you've got time? -------> Sure you got time?

Now, what are the shortened versions of the following sentences?

Would you like a drink?

Do you have any green tea?

Are they shortened in the same way as the examples below?

Do you want a drink? -------> Want a drink?

Have you got any green tea? -------> Got any green tea?

asked Jan 05 '20 at 21:34

Apollonian

1,212

Like a drink? Have any green tea? Notice: the shortening means dropping the helping verb and pronoun. – Lambie Jan 05 '20 at 21:45
This answer your question? Why is the subject omitted in sentences like "Thought you'd never ask"? – John Lawler Jan 06 '20 at 02:32
@JohnLawler No, it doesn't. I've been very specific. I've only asked about "Do you have.." and "Would you like..." which would sound weird if shortened to "like a drink" and "have any g tea" – Apollonian Jan 06 '20 at 07:43
"Like a drink?" And In BrE, "Got any green tea?" – Old Brixtonian Jan 06 '20 at 14:00

Colloquially Shortened Sentences

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