MTEL Communication Literacy Skills : Writing Practice Test

What is the function of an elliptical clause?

1. To add additional context without any omitted elements

2. To provide a complete thought with no missing parts

3. To omit clause elements when the context makes their meaning clear

4. To form a question about the omitted actions

The correct answer is: To omit clause elements when the context makes their meaning clear

An elliptical clause serves the specific purpose of omitting certain words or phrases from a sentence when the context makes their meanings clear. This form of construction allows for more concise communication by eliminating redundancy. In many cases, the omitted elements are easily inferred based on the surrounding information, allowing the reader or listener to fill in the gaps. In contrast, the other options do not accurately define the function of an elliptical clause. For example, adding additional context typically involves providing complete statements rather than leaving parts out. Providing a complete thought suggests that no elements are omitted, which is contrary to the nature of ellipsis. Forming a question is also a different function, as elliptic clauses are not specifically designed for interrogative purposes but rather for streamlining statements. Thus, the focus of an elliptical clause on context dependency and omission makes the chosen answer the most accurate.