Which sentence shows a correct coordination of two independent clauses with an ellipsis of the second verb?

Which sentence shows a correct coordination of two independent clauses with an ellipsis of the second verb?

• A. Mark loves to eat fruits and I love to eat fruits.
• B. Mark loves to eat fruits and I do, either.
• C. Mark loves to eat fruits and I do as well.
• D. Mark loves to eat fruits; I love to eat fruits.

Answer: (B)

Ellipsis in coordination lets you avoid repeating the same verb in the second clause by using do to stand in for that verb. Here, the first clause says “Mark loves to eat fruits.” The second clause uses “I do, either,” where do takes the place of “love to eat fruits.” The word either signals agreement with the positive statement, similar to saying “I do as well” or “I do, too.” This setup clearly demonstrates substituting the second verb with do to link the two independent clauses. The other sentences either repeat the verb fully without ellipsis, or rely on a different punctuation pattern that doesn’t show the ellipsis of the second verb as cleanly. Thus, this construction best showcases the intended elliptical coordination.

Ellipsis in coordination lets you avoid repeating the same verb in the second clause by using do to stand in for that verb. Here, the first clause says “Mark loves to eat fruits.” The second clause uses “I do, either,” where do takes the place of “love to eat fruits.” The word either signals agreement with the positive statement, similar to saying “I do as well” or “I do, too.” This setup clearly demonstrates substituting the second verb with do to link the two independent clauses.

The other sentences either repeat the verb fully without ellipsis, or rely on a different punctuation pattern that doesn’t show the ellipsis of the second verb as cleanly. Thus, this construction best showcases the intended elliptical coordination.