Grammar: One and ones

(1)We can use one instead of repeating a singular countable noun and ones instead of repeating a plural noun when it is clear from the context what we are talking about:

# 'Can I get you a drink?' 'It's okay, I've already got one.' (= a drink)
# I think his best poems are his early ones. (= poems)

(2)We don't use one/ones instead of an uncountable noun:

# If you need any more paper, I'll bring you some, (not ...I'll bring you one/ones.)

# I asked him to get apple juice, but he got orange, (not ...but he got orange one/ones.)

(3) We can't use ones without defining precisely which group of things we are talking about. Instead, we use some. Compare:

# 'We need new curtains.' 'Okay, let's buy green ones /ones with flowers’

# 'We need new curtains.' 'Okay, let's buy some.' (not Okay, let's buy ones.)

(4)We don't use one/ones after nouns used as adjectives:

# I thought my key was in my trouser pocket, but it was in my coat pocket. (not ...my coat one.)

(5)Instead of using one/ones after my, your, her, etc. we prefer mine, yours, hers, etc.

# I'd really like a watch like yours, (not ...like your one)

We can leave out one/ones

ü after which:

# When we buy medicines, we have no way of knowing which (ones) contain sugar.

ü after superlatives:

# Look at that pumpkin! It's the biggest (one) I've seen this year.

ü after this, that, these, and those:

# The last test I did was quite easy, but some parts of this (one) are really difficult.

# Help yourself to grapes. These (ones) are the sweetest, but those (ones) taste best.

ü after either, neither, another, each, the first/second/last, (etc.):

# Karl pointed to the paintings and said I could take either (one), (or ...either of them.)

# She cleared away the cups, washed each (one) thoroughly, and put them on the shelf

We don't leave out one/ones

ü after the, the only, the main, and every:

# When you cook potatoes you shouldn't cut the ones that you don't want to cook now.

# After I got the glasses home, I found that every one was broken.

ü after adjectives:

# My shoes were so uncomfortable that I had to go out today and buy some new ones

However, after colour adjectives we can often leave out one/ones in answers:

# 'Have you decided which jumper to buy?' 'Yes, I think I'll take the blue (one).'

We don't include ones when we use adjectives in place of nouns to talk about groups of people, as in the homeless, the low-paid, the privileged, the rich, the wealthy, the young, etc.

# The privileged['prɪv(ə)lɪʤd] should be detached from the homeless

Exercises

1. If necessary, correct these sentences. If they are already correct, write “C”

1 Chris brought the wood and put ones on the fire.

2 Normally I don't like wearing a scarf, but it was so cold and I put one on.

3 'We've run out of potatoes.' 'I'll get ones when I go to the shops.'

4 We haven't got lemon tea, but you could have mint one instead.

5 Those aren't your gloves. You must have picked up the wrong ones.

6 'What kind of cakes do you like best?' 'Ones with cream inside.'

7 I couldn't fit all the boxes in the car, so I had to leave ones behind and pick it up later.

2. If appropriate, replace the underlined words or phrases with one or ones. If it is not possible or is unlikely, write No after the sentence.

1 I answered most of the questions, but had to miss out some very difficult questions.

2 He used to work for a finance company, but he's moved to an insurance company. (!)

3 The issue discussed at the meeting was an extremely complicated issue.

4 Dave is really good at taking photos of old buildings. There's an excellent photo of a local
church in his office.

5 'Are you picking Jo up at the train station?' 'No, she's arriving at the bus station.'

6 On one channel was a war film and on the other was a horror['hɔrə] film, so I turned the TV off.

7 There are lots of gloves here. Are these your gloves?

3. If the sentence is correct without the underlined one/ones, put brackets around it (as in 1). If it is not correct without one/ones, write “C” (as in 2).

1 The children had eaten all the pizza and were still hungry so I had to make them another (one).

2 I drove around the houses, looking for the ones with 'For Sale' notices outside. “C”

3 I'm not keen on those ones with the cherry on top. I think I'll have a chocolate biscuit instead.

4 I like both of these jackets. I don't know which one to choose.

5 The vases are all handmade and every one looks different.

6 Each winter seemed to be colder than the last one.

7 There are many excellent food markets in town but the main one is near the port.

8 She tried on lots of pairs of shoes and finally chose the purple ones.

9 I went to a lot of interesting talks at the conference, but the best one was given

by a Chinese professor.

10 Mark drove because he was the only one who knew where the restaurant was.

11 Can you remember where you bought this one? I'd like to get one myself.

12 You can buy quite a good guitar for under €200, but the most expensive ones cost thousands.

13 He's just bought a new bike and has offered to give me his old one.

Grammar Homework

1) Grammar exercises

2) Learn Phrasal Verbs

3) Quotes 1

You should be able to finish these quotes (like humour)

Quotes 1

All our dreams can come true…	….if we have the courage to pursue [pə'sjuː] them
I do not know whether I was then a man….	…..dreaming I was a butterfly, or whether I am now a butterfly dreaming I am a man
Information's pretty useless stuff…..	unless it’s mixed with experience
I found there was only one way to look thin -	hang out with fat people
Life is like riding a bicycle,	you don't fall off unless you stop peddling
Whenever you see a successful business,	someone once made a courageous [kə'reɪʤəs] decision
When a friend is in trouble….	don't annoy him by asking if there is anything you can do. Think up something appropriate and do it
True friendship comes when…	silence between two people is comfortable
Friendship is a plant…	which must be often watered
Dream as if you'll live forever,	live as if you'll die today
You never know how strong you are…	until being strong is the only choice you have
Everyone makes mistakes. But it doesn’t matter at all.	What does matter is how fast you can recover and learn
Nobody will believe in you	unless you believe in yourself

Date: 2015-12-17; view: 1978