Cohesion

Substitution

We can avoid repeating a word or expression that has been used before by substituting it with other words.

Substituting a noun or noun phrase with a pronoun

• I'd like a coffee. Would you like one?
  NOT: I'd like a coffee. Would you like a coffee?

• Look at this wonderful Spanish wine. I'm going to buy some.
  NOT: Look at this wonderful Spanish wine. I'm going to buy this wine.

(Note that one replaces countable nouns, and some replaces uncountable nouns.)

• Jane's new sweater looks exactly like mine.
  NOT: Jane's new sweater looks exactly like my new sweater.

Substituting a verb or verb phrase with do, does or did

• "Did you watch the news?" "Yes, I did."
  NOT: "Did you watch the news?" "Yes, I watched the news."

• "Does Peter come from Queensland?" "Yes, I think he does."
  NOT: "Does Peter come from Queensland?" "Yes, I think he comes from Queensland."

• "Do you often go to the cinema?" "Yes, I do."
  NOT: "Do you often go to the cinema?" "Yes, I often go to the cinema."

Substituting with so and not

We substitute a clause, or an adjective or adverb, with so.

• Are you happy with the travel arrangements? If so, I'll tell the travel agency.
  NOT: Are you happy with the travel arrangements? If you are happy with the travel arrangements, I'll tell the travel agency.

• It was very hot and remained so for days.
  NOT: It was very hot and remained very hot for days.

We substitute a clause in the negative with not.

• Are you happy with the travel arrangements? If not, I'll tell the travel agency.
• Don't you like brown bread? If not, just tell me.

Instead of repeating information in a that clause, we can substitute the information with so. We do this with hope, suppose, imagine, believe, think, guess, be afraid and expect.

• "Is John a vegetarian?" "I believe so."
  NOT: "Is John a vegetarian?" "I believe (that) John is a vegetarian."

• "Do you think he'll be late again?" "I suppose so."
  NOT: "Do you think he'll be late again?" "I suppose (that) he'll be late again."

To put this in the negative, we use not.

• "Do you think you will be late?" "I think not."
  NOT: "Do you think you will be late?" "I don't think I will be late."

• "I don't suppose he's coming for dinner." "No, I suppose not."
  NOT: "I don't suppose he's coming for dinner." "No, I suppose he's not coming for dinner."

We can also use the verb in negative + so.

• "Do you think you will be late?" "I don't think so."
• "I don't suppose he's coming for dinner." "No, I don't suppose so."

The verb in negative cannot be used with hope or be afraid.

• "Will he phone later?" "I hope not."
  NOT: "Will he phone later?" I don't hope so."

• "Can you come to dinner?" "I'm afraid not."
  NOT: "Can you come to dinner?" "I'm not afraid so."