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Hi,I have thought about this more than once... now it's time to ask, because I realized I am likely to make involuntary mistakes because of this. The question is simple, the answer might be complicated: when is it possible to leave out subjects, and what kind of subjects? I guess I need some examples, then I might try to infer a rule of thumb. Some examples of what I mean:Trying to fix your car again? = Are you trying...Been here for a while already. = I have been here....Been trying for a while, but he's still stuck. = He's been trying... &lt;--- ???Sorry, was talking on the phone. = I was talking... &lt;--- ???Can anyone give me some examples? Thanks.

AlpheccaStars · Accepted Answer

Hi Kooyeen:
Your examples are not complete sentences. Maybe it's Ok to say these in casual conversation, but they are not correct.
The one example that I can think of that is always correct is the imperative form, where the implied subject is "you".

Stand up straight!
Clean up your room.

Kooyeen · Answer

AlpheccaStars Maybe it's Ok to say these in casual conversation, but they are not correct.

If something is ok to say in a particular context (register), it is correctin that context (register), by definition of a language.

I really like English, so I like to learn every aspect of it. And there are lots of complex features that no one ever teaches ESL learners... for example, "do" is sometimes left out in questions with "you", "Hey, you have a pencil? Thanks", but doesn't seem to be left out in all other cases. And that might even turn into "Hey, you got a pencil?"

So, can anyone tell me something about leaving out subjects? Thanks.

AlpheccaStars · Answer

Hi Kooyeen,

Slang and dialects are used all over the world. Some ways of talking are Ok in their own context (to the speakers), but that does not mean they are "correct Standard English". See the recent long posting on I'mma which gives some very vivid examples of non-standard English.

The examples you have given are all non-standard English. Are you looking for some more non-standard expressions, or standard English?

Verb_aTIM · Answer

As you can notice on your first example: TRYING TO FIX YOUR CAR AGAIN? not only you leave out a Subject, but also a Verb. 'Cause in a formal speech it should be, ARE YOU TRYING TO FIX YOUR CAR AGAIN?   And, I believe that the reason for that happening is the American style of speaking, I mean, in an informal way,  Which is more common than you might think.

Yoong Liat · Answer

Verb_aTIMTRYING TO FIX YOUR CAR AGAIN?

To me, it is OK in casual conversation to say the above. However, strictly speaking, it is not grammatically correct.

Avangi · Answer

Are you picking up a pattern?
The first president Bush was famous for omitting the subjects (especially first person) from his work.
Sometimes you just get sick of writing "I," perhaps from false modesty. I often think of Blaise Pascal, "Le moi est haissable," but I never could render it in English.

I'm sure you know the joke, "Have an accident??" (reply) "No thanks, I just had one."

Yoong Liat · Answer

Hi Avangi

In my country, which was once occupied by the British and which uses BrE, it is common to hear people say

Trying to fix your car again?

We were taught by British native teachers for many, many years.

As A Stars says "Maybe it's OK to say this in casual conversation." I agree with her. The only difference is she says 'Maybe ...'

Avangi · Answer

Hi Yoong,
Perhaps the way the economy's going you'll all soon have new cars!

I don't know about those British teachers! Spare the rod and spoil the child??

Best wishes, - A.

PS I think A. Stars is of the female persuasion. Also, if I understood her correctly, native American. Not to mention, very sharp.

(Hey, you missed the "he"!) Okay, okay. I love this new liberalization of the edit window!

Kooyeen · Answer

Oh my, I don't even know what to say now, LOL. I always go a little crazy when I hear the words "standard" and "non-standard". Forget about standard and non-standard English. Let's consider "English used in general by Americans, without considering regionalisms" (but it would be interesting to know about the situation in the UK too). Now the question is, can anyone think of some patterns where the subject is left out?

I can think of:
- questions with "you" and present progressive or present perfect: (Are)(You)Getting ready for tonight? (Have)(You)Been here long?
- offers with "you" and "want": (Do)(You)Wanna come along?

Any others? Other subjects, other verbs? I am also thinking of (I)(Have)Never heard of that, but it only seems to work with "never" and when the subject is "I".
You might be wondering why I am asking about this. Well, I realized I tend to leave out some parts, and I realized I have no idea if what I do is actually done by native speakers or not. (I)(Have)No idea where and how I picked this up (See? I would tend to leave out subject and verb, and just say "No idea where I picked it up"). One of the weird things I tend to do is leaving out the subject "I" with the present progressive. Example: "Oh sorry, I was distracted.... (I) was trying to fix my pc."

Remember all this applies to informal contexts and fast or not careful speech.
(Does)(Anyone have)Any advice? Ooops, that's another one.

Thanks.

CalifJim · Answer

KooyeenCan anyone give me some examples?

do you, did you, have you, are you are often omitted in yes-no questions in the register you're interested in here -- as you illustrate with Trying to fix your car again?
The register, in my opinion, need not be particularly "low" -- it's not slang -- but in almost all cases, of course, the context has to set up the right situation for this kind of usage.
Got it? Got a light? Got any more of these? Want ( [another / this / that] ) one? Want mine? Want some? Ready? Hungry? Tired? Finished? Done (yet)? Eat yet? Seen him/her/it lately? Been to see him/her/it [yet / lately]? Getting the hang of it? Understand? Know what I mean? Know how to do it? Know what to say? Waiting for a bus? Waiting for someone? Been waiting long? Still waiting? Need a ride? Need anything (else)? Sleep late this morning? Still sleepy? Find it? Found it yet? Leaving soon? Heard the news? Ever heard why? Ever seen one like that? Ever been stopped by the cops? Not feeling very well? Getting a cold? Happy now? Excited (about it)? Have a good time? Got a problem with that? Drive much? Thought about it yet? Still thinking it over? Ever try sushi? Still sore? Had it checked lately? ...

I would guess that the more frequently a verb is used in general, the more likely it is to be used in these patterns. (get, want, need, have, know, see, hear, ...) Lesser used verbs virtually never occur in this pattern, especially when surrounded by other high-register, low-frequency vocabulary. You'll never hear, for example, Elucidate the reasons for the discrepancy?

_____
I don't hear such omissions as often in statements, though I suspect a few like that do exist, for example,
Been there, done that; Knew it!; Told you !; Got it!; Already [saw / did] it, Never heard of it.

CJ

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