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I've been wondering, are structures like the ones mentioned in the title considered correct? Is it perfectly fine to use them, or do they sound overly colloquial? Let's focus on the three examples:

a) "Wish me luck!" said Ana.

"I do" was my only response.

I can't think of any other way I could have phrased it without sounding overly wordy.

b) He told me I couldn't have predicted what the next card would be, but I truly did.

Again, this one sounds entirely idiomatical to my non-native ear.

c) He told me to rethink my actions, which I did, and go to church, which I didn't.

But in this one, for whatever reason, the second part is where I start to have doubts. Is it only me, or is the contracted form more natural than its longer version?

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  • They sound OK to me, if a bit slangy and informal. The only one I might change is #2, to "He told me I couldn't have...but I truly had", because "I had predicted it."
    – stangdon
    Commented Nov 29, 2016 at 18:56
  • Is "could" possible?
    – V.V.
    Commented Nov 29, 2016 at 20:36
  • But then again, do you not think that, once we remove the nonrestrictive clauses, the sentence would sound peculiar with another "to"? "He told me to rethink my actions and to go to church"?
    – Bebop B.
    Commented Nov 29, 2016 at 21:39
  • truly is regional in AmE. Northerner: I'm really sorry.. Southerner: I'm truly sorry. But there is also really and truly....
    – TimR
    Commented Nov 29, 2016 at 22:49

1 Answer 1

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Your two phrases are correct and often used

He told be to buy the red car, which I did.
Mom wanted me to wash the dishes, which I did.

She is hungry, but I'm not.
They are from America, but I'm not.

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  • Okay, and what about the short questions and answers? Is it completely natural to respond with a simple "I do" in my a) example? If somebody said "We can't go there, you can't even drive a car!", would it be acceptable to respond with: "I can" rather than "yes, I can"? Or perhaps it'd sound better phrased like "well, I can" if I didn't want to stick to the second option?
    – Bebop B.
    Commented Nov 30, 2016 at 21:20
  • And regarding the questions. Is it correct to say: "I'm not hungry. Are you?" or "I knew you'd fool me! Or did you?"
    – Bebop B.
    Commented Nov 30, 2016 at 21:32
  • @Bebop Not really. I would expect you to respond with the performative "Good luck!"
    – user230
    Commented Nov 30, 2016 at 21:34
  • For me :-), If one responds to "Wish me luck!" with "I do!", is sounds like they are holding something back, best is to use "Good luck!". If you say "we can't go there..." you are including yourself, "How will you get there, you can't even drive a car, but I can (drive you)." at which point they will ask you to drive them. Subtle point: "Well, I can" is good for "Who can drive us there?", and depending on intonation can be interpreted as "Well, I can, (if you really want me to and are going to twist my arm and make my life miserable if I don't)".
    – Peter
    Commented Nov 30, 2016 at 22:26
  • Also, since you already said "you can't even drive" (a put down), if you say "I can", "I do" without a "but" it will sound like you are gloating.
    – Peter
    Commented Nov 30, 2016 at 22:26

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