Omission of complements in regency cases

THE omission of complements in cases of regency it represents yet another linguistic feature of which we should be aware. Given this reality, from now on we will establish familiarity with the subject.

The omission of terms is manifested in order to avoid possible repetitions, making the speech even more clear and precise. Regarding the context to which we refer, nothing different occurs, taking into account the verbal and nominal complements. With regard to the latter, let us analyze the following statement:

Respect and obedience to elders.
We found that the complement “to the eldest” was clearly omitted, do you agree? Yes, because with the intention of leaving the speech repetitive, we could opt for the following enunciation: respect for the elders and obedience to the elders.

Do not stop now... There's more after the advertising ;)

Thus, there was the possibility of using this feature (the omission), since the nouns "respect and obedience" have the same rulership.

It can be said that the same happens in the case of verbal complements. Let us therefore analyze another statement:

I read and returned the magazine.

I read the magazine and returned the magazine. Why not just say:

I read the magazine and returned it.

We found that the appeal manifested itself, since, similarly to the previous case, both verbs obey the same rulership, that is, they are direct transitives.


By Vânia Duarte
Graduated in Letters

Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:

DUARTE, Vânia Maria do Nascimento. "Omission of complements in cases of regency"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/gramatica/omissao-dos-complementos-nos-casos-regencia.htm. Accessed on June 28, 2021.

In other languages: words of Portuguese origin

PORTUGUESE LANGUAGELazio's last flower, uncultivated and beautiful,You are, at the same time, spl...

read more

Better than or Better than?

As you may already know, adverbs can manifest themselves in comparative degree and in the superla...

read more

About or is there about? Neither or so little?

• about or there is aboutIn the expression “there are about” the verb “have” is inserted in the ...

read more