What is an Elliptical Clause? Elliptical Clause Examples and Definition

What Is an Elliptical Clause?

An elliptical clause is a type of dependent, or subordinate, clause that is missing a word or words. Often, the missing part is a verb or verb phrase. While elliptical clauses are acceptable to use, they can sometimes cause confusion for writers and readers, especially when the sentence ends with a pronoun. Here’s an example of a sentence where the writer has to make a choice between the correct pronoun to use:

You are just as good at golfing as (her, she).

The verb is is missing from the end of the clause, making it elliptical. Without considering the missing verb, some people might think that her is the correct pronoun to place at the end the sentence. But try pairing her with the verb is and then read the entire clause: as her is . Does it work? No. The appropriate pronoun to include here is she :
What is an Elliptical Clause? In this sentence, as she is the elliptical clause. If it were a complete dependent clause, it would be written, as she is .

The easiest way to determine which pronoun to place in an elliptical clause like the one above is to imagine the missing verb or verb phrase in the clause.

Elliptical Clause Examples:

He is a better drummer than (me, I).

(The verb am is missing from the elliptical clause. Than I am is correct; than me am is not.)

He is a better drummer than I.

( I is the correct pronoun to use. Than I is the elliptical clause.)

Corin and Alicia can’t sing as loudly as (they, them).

(The verb phrase can sing is missing from the elliptical clause. As they can sing is correct; as them can sing is not.)

Elliptical Clause Examples

( They is the correct pronoun to use. As they is the elliptical clause.)

My brother is a faster runner than (him, he).

(The verb is is missing from the elliptical clause. Than he is is correct; than him is is not.)

My brother is a faster runner than he .

( He is the correct pronoun to use. Than he is the elliptical clause.)

Evan is just as excited about seeing the movie as (I, me) .

(The verb am is missing from the elliptical clause. As I am is correct; as me am is not.)

Evan is just as excited about seeing the movie as I .

( I is the correct pronoun to use. As I is the elliptical clause.)

Danielle does math problems more quickly than (him, he) .

(The verb does is missing from the elliptical clause. Than he does is correct; than him does is not.)

Danielle does math problems more quickly than he .

( He is the correct pronoun to use. Than he is the elliptical clause.)

Marta skis almost as well as (them, they) .

(The verb ski is missing from the elliptical clause. As they ski is correct; as them ski is not.)

Marta skis almost as well as they .

( They is the correct pronoun to use. As they is the elliptical clause.)

No one works harder than (she, her) .

(The verb works is missing from the elliptical clause. Than she works is correct; than her works is not.)

No one works harder than she .

( She is the correct pronoun to use. Than she is the elliptical clause.)

Laura doesn’t practice playing piano as much as (me, I) .

(The verb practice is missing from the elliptical clause. As I practice is correct; as me practice is not.)

Laura doesn’t practice playing piano as much as I .

( I is the correct pronoun to use. As I is the elliptical clause.)

Raphael swims more quickly than (they, them) .

(The verb swim is missing from the elliptical clause. Than they swim is correct; than them swim is not.)

Raphael swims more quickly than they .

( They is the correct pronoun to use. Than they is the elliptical clause.)

I can’t cook as well as (he, him) .

(The verb phrase can cook is missing from the elliptical clause. As he can cook is correct; as him can cook is not.)

I can’t cook as well as he .

( He is the correct pronoun to use. As he is the elliptical clause.)

Gillian’s sisters are older than (her, she) .

(The verb is is missing from the elliptical clause. Than she is is correct; than her is is not.)

Gillian’s sisters are older than she.

( She is the correct pronoun to use. Than she is the elliptical clause.)

We haven’t traveled as extensively as (they, them) .

(The verb phrase have traveled is missing from the elliptical clause. As they have traveled is correct; as them have traveled is not.)

We haven’t traveled as extensively as they .

( They is the correct pronoun to use. As they is the elliptical clause.)