I replied to this question earlier but it never came through.  I agree with
Martha.  You can make just about any phrase into an elliptical clause if you add
enough words!  Consider this example: After dinner.  We wouldn't call that one an
elliptical clause even though it could mean "After we ate dinner."  Dining works
the same way except that it's a gerund rather than a "regular" noun.
:) Dawn

Martha Kolln wrote:

> Kent & Mike,
>
> I think that "when" and "while" clauses are often elliptical, as in
>
>         While waiting for the guests to arrive, we ate all the hors
> d'oeuvres ourselves.
>
> Here, there's a clear "we were" that could have been included.  Or
>
>         When [I am] in doubt about the weather, I always carry an umbrella.
>
> Your example, however, does not work that way.
>
>         After [  I ?] dining, I went to the opera.
>
> Yours is more than an elliptical clause.
>
>         After I finished dining?   After the act of dining?  After I had dined?
>
> I would call "after dining" a prepositional phrase, comparable to
> "after dinner."  And, using traditional terminology, I would label
> "dining" a gerund--or simply an -ing verb used nominally.
>
> You'll discover that "while" and "when" clauses are the most likely
> elliptical-clause candidates.
>
> Martha
>
> >Mike,
> >
> >Thanks for the reply, but I'm not sure how you "agree" wth me! My
> >hunch is that it really is an "elliptical"clause, if that term can
> >be used with adverbial clauses (I know it can with relative ones).
> >But I'm not sure. What do you think?
> >
> >In fact, a couple of us have had students pose this same question.
> >
> >Kent
> >
> >**
> >
> >Hi!
> >
> >I agree with you Kent.  What are the others saying about the sentence?
> >
> >Cheers,
> >Mike
> >
> >Kent Johnson <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> >"After dining, I went to the opera."
> >
> >Is "After dining" a prepositional phrase or an elliptical adverbial
> >clause, i.e., "After I finished dining..."?
> >
> >We are having an argument over this among our English faculty.
> >
> >thanks for any counseling,
> >
> >Kent
> >
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>
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