Following a Topic Across Clauses

Level 5

Follow the topic across the whole stretch of talk.

How It Works

A Topic Can Continue
After a speaker introduces a parcel, later clauses can describe where it was put and who collected it without repeating parcel each time.

Keep Each Role Clear
In That parcel, I left downstairs. Mei collected already., the parcel is the object of both actions, while their doers differ. A topic is not automatically the grammatical subject of every clause.

Name a Changed Reference
When the conversation introduces several possible people or things, repeat a name or noun. Topic continuity relies on understanding, not a rule that every repeated noun must be removed.

Examples (3)

  1. That parcel, I left downstairs. Mei collected already.

    I left that parcel downstairs, and Mei has collected it.

    The parcel continues as the understood object; I and Mei are different doers.

  2. The soup, I tried just now. Quite spicy. Still got some in the pot.

    I tried the soup a little while ago. It is quite spicy, and there is still some in the pot.

    The soup remains the topic through the following comments.

  3. Your brother, I saw at the station. Said he was waiting for you.

    I saw your brother at the station. He said he was waiting for you.

    In this context the understood speaker of said is the brother. If that is unclear, say he or your brother.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Following a Topic Across ClausesLevel 5

Learn This First

Follow the relation between topic and comment before tracking the same topic across several clauses.