LONGMAN ENGLISH GRAMMAR PRACTICE

4 Pronouns

4.2

4.2A

Study:

[•g

'One'

'One' and 'you' [> LEG 4.9]

We use one, as a pronoun meaning 'everyone/anyone', to refer to 'people in general' only

when we want to be formal. In everyday speech, we use you in an informal way to mean

'everyone/anyone'. Compare:

A: Is it easy to go camping in this country?

B: Yes, but one isn't allowed to camp where one likes. One can only use camp-sites.

or: Yes, but you aren't allowed to camp where you like. You can only use camp-sites.

Don't use one, one's (= your) and oneself (= yourself) unless you want to sound formal.

Write: Rewrite this paragraph so that it sounds 'informal'. Use you.

The moment one gets into the mountains, one is on one's own. One has to rely on oneself for

everything. This means one has to carry all one's own food, though, of course, one can get pure

drinking water from mountain streams. One won't see any local people for days at a time, so one can't

get help if one's lost. One has to do one's best to find sheltered places to spend the night.

...7

4.2B 'One' and 'ones' in place of countable nouns: 'Use this clean one'

[> LEG 4.10]

We can't use an adjective on its own in place of a singular countable noun. We must use a noun

after an adjective or we must use one to avoid repeating the noun [> 6.3A]:

Don't use that cloth. Use this clean one. (Not *Use this clean. *)

2 We use ones to avoid repeating a plural countable noun:

I don't want to wear my old shoes. I want to wear my new ones. (Not *wear my new*)

3 We can use one and ones for people as well as things:

Do you know John Smith/Jane Smith?- Is he/she the one who phoned last night?

Do you know the Smiths?- Are they the ones who used to live in this house?

4 We do not use one in place of an uncountable noun. We repeat the noun or use no noun at all:

Don't use that milk. Use this fresh milk. Or: Use this fresh. (Not 'this fresh one*)

Write: Supply one or ones where necessary.

1 Have you met our new secretary? - Is she the who joined us last week?

2 You know the man I mean, the who lent you £50.

3 Which actresses did you meet? - The who appeared in Act 1.

4 Here are your stamps. These are the you paid for.

5 Which computer did you use? - The that is in your office.

6 The children I like to teach are the who like to learn.

7 Pour away that dirty water and get some clean

8 If I were you, I'd sell that old car and buy a new