How 'So' Can Replace a Lot of Information
2021-08-06
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1Think about American movies or books that you know.
2You have probably heard or read statements such as "I guess so," "I don't think so," or "he said so."
3In today's Everyday Grammar, you will learn about the grammar behind such statements.
4We will explore shortened clauses.
5You will learn about the word so, and how it commonly replaces one kind of clause in everyday speaking and writing.
6But first, let's begin by finding out what a clause is.
7Clauses are groups of words with a subject and a predicate, the part of the sentence that says something about the subject.
8When a clause is independent, it is a complete sentence.
9For example:
10I love grammar.
11The subject is I, and the words love grammar make up the predicate.
12When a clause is dependent, it plays a part in a longer sentence. For example:
13I believe that learning grammar is important.
14Here, the subject is I and the predicate is believe that learning grammar is important.
15Note that a dependent clause, that learning grammar is important, appears in the predicate.
16There are different kinds of dependent clauses.
17The one we are interested in begins with the word that - just like in the example you heard.
18You might be asking yourself how this discussion connects with the word so.
19The answer is that English speakers often replace that-clauses with the word so, especially after certain verbs.
20The most common of these verbs include guess, think and hope.
21Consider this example. Imagine two people are trying to decide about something to watch.
22Have you seen this movie?
23I don't think so.
24In the example, the word so replaces a that-clause.
25If the speaker did not use so, the example would have sounded like this:
26Have you seen this movie?
27I don't think that I have seen this movie.
28English speakers often shorten noun clauses that would repeat what they have already said - or what another speaker has said.
29English speakers usually do not replace that-clauses if the information is new.
30Let's think about another example:
31Did you remember to turn off the gas stove before we left the house?
32I hope so.
33Such an answer is not very convincing and should be a cause for concern.
34Please note that the example would have been longer if the word so were not used, as in:
35Did you remember to turn off the gas stove before we left the house?
36I hope that I remembered to turn off the gas stove before we left the house.
37One reason English speakers replace that-clauses with the word so is because of speed.
38It is much faster to not repeat information.
39Discussions that repeat so much information would become too long!
40The next time you are watching shows or reading books in English, pay careful attention to how speakers use the word so.
41Make note of which verbs they use.
42And be sure to look for other kinds of words they use to replace clauses.
43That might have to be a subject for another report.
44I'm John Russell.
1Think about American movies or books that you know. You have probably heard or read statements such as "I guess so," "I don't think so," or "he said so." 2In today's Everyday Grammar, you will learn about the grammar behind such statements. 3We will explore shortened clauses. You will learn about the word so, and how it commonly replaces one kind of clause in everyday speaking and writing. 4But first, let's begin by finding out what a clause is. 5Clauses 6Clauses are groups of words with a subject and a predicate, the part of the sentence that says something about the subject. 7When a clause is independent, it is a complete sentence. For example: 8I love grammar. 9The subject is I, and the words love grammar make up the predicate. 10When a clause is dependent, it plays a part in a longer sentence. For example: 11I believe that learning grammar is important. 12Here, the subject is I and the predicate is believe that learning grammar is important. 13Note that a dependent clause, that learning grammar is important, appears in the predicate. 14There are different kinds of dependent clauses. The one we are interested in begins with the word that - just like in the example you heard. 15The word "so" 16You might be asking yourself how this discussion connects with the word so. 17The answer is that English speakers often replace that-clauses with the word so, especially after certain verbs. The most common of these verbs include guess, think and hope. 18Consider this example. Imagine two people are trying to decide about something to watch. 19Have you seen this movie? 20I don't think so. 21In the example, the word so replaces a that-clause. If the speaker did not use so, the example would have sounded like this: 22Have you seen this movie? 23I don't think that I have seen this movie. 24English speakers often shorten noun clauses that would repeat what they have already said - or what another speaker has said. 25English speakers usually do not replace that-clauses if the information is new. 26Let's think about another example: 27Did you remember to turn off the gas stove before we left the house? 28I hope so. 29Such an answer is not very convincing and should be a cause for concern. 30Please note that the example would have been longer if the word so were not used, as in: 31Did you remember to turn off the gas stove before we left the house? 32I hope that I remembered to turn off the gas stove before we left the house. 33Closing thoughts 34One reason English speakers replace that-clauses with the word so is because of speed. It is much faster to not repeat information. Discussions that repeat so much information would become too long! 35The next time you are watching shows or reading books in English, pay careful attention to how speakers use the word so. Make note of which verbs they use. And be sure to look for other kinds of words they use to replace clauses. 36That might have to be a subject for another report. 37I'm John Russell. 38John Russell wrote this lesson for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor. 39___________________________________________________________ 40Words in This Story 41grammar - n. the set of rules that explain how words are used in a language 42convince -v. to persuade a person of that something is true