MULTIMEDIA-ENGLISH

Before doing this activity you may need to read the text you will find at the end


  SmartMemo
One / Ones as a pronoun
Focus Grammar
Description We use ONE/S as a pronoun to avoid repetition.
Instructions 1- Look at the sentences and rewrite them without making repetitions. Use ONE/S only when necessary. 2- Move your mouse over the black button to check your answer. 3- If you were right, click on the green button, if wrong, click on the red.
 
Item Match Comments
There's no milk in the fridge. We need to buy some milk. There's no milk in the fridge. We need to buy some. not: some one (because it is uncountable)
I can give you a pen. Which pen do you want? I can give you a pen. Which do you want? also: WHICH ONE
You gave me 4 pens but we are 7. I need more pens. You gave me 4 pens but we are 7. I need more. not: I need more ones
I have these two pots that I don't need. You can take both pots. I have these two pots that I don't need. You can take both. not: both pots
I don't usually drink wine, but please, give me a little wine. I don't usually drink wine, but please, give me a little. not: a little one
This LITTLE is a quantifier (little vs a lot)
When it is an adjective (littel = small) then we use ONE:
I have two sons, the little one wants to be an astronaut
She has two children. The tall child is Joseph and the short child is Brian. She has two children. The tall one is Joseph and the short one is Brian.
Look at those trees. The tallest trees are oaks. Look at those trees. The tallest are oaks. also: THE TALLEST ONES
You've got a lot of money there. Can I have some money? You've got a lot of money there. Can I have some? not: some one (because it is uncountable)
That's not your phone. It is my phone. That's not your phone. It is mine.
Bring me the books. The books on that table. Bring me the books. The ones on that table.
They were selling hot dogs.I bought this hot dog for you. They were selling hot dogs.I bought this one for you.
Look at this phone. You will never see a phone like this. Look at this phone. You will never see one like this.
Do you want the red apple or the green appel? Do you want the red apple or the green one
I don't have an umbrella. I need to buy an umbrella. I don't have an umbrella. I need to buy one.
I love your plants, especially the plants around the wall. I love your plants, especially the ones around the wall.
A hotel? Yes, there's a hotel near here. A hotel? Yes, there's one near here.
I don't have a car because I don't need a car I don't have a car because I don't need one
When you buy bananas, always buy the small bananas, they are the best. When you buy bananas, always buy the small ones. They are the best.
That phone is very small, yes, but this is the smallest phone. That phone is very small, yes, but this is smallest. also: THIS ONE
also: THE SMALLEST ONE
Take those chairs. I need these chairs here. Take those chairs. I need these here. also: THESE ONES
Total number of items: 20
This is an activity from Multimedia-English www.multimedia-english.com
 

We use ONE instead of repeating a noun. We use ONE for singular nouns, and ONES for plurals.
 
- What beautiful flowers! Can I have one?  (one=flower)
- Who is your girlfriend? - The one in the red shirt
- I'd like a hamburger. One with lots of onion, please.
- Would you like to try these shoes, sir? - No, the black ones, please.
- Natural flowers are much better than artificial ones.
- Look at those children. The ones playing football. They're from San Francisco.

We don't use ONE for uncountable nouns, we use SOME or nothing it goes with an adjective

- If you like mangos, I can give you one.
- If you like brown sugar, I can give you some.
- If you don't like French wine, we can buy Spanish (not: Spanish one)

Some grammatical words, etc can be used with a noun or alone, so they don't need to use ONE

- Which do you like?   (also: which one)
- He is the tallest (also: he is the tallest one)
- That's your book and this is mine  (not: my one)
- Banana or apple? - I'll take both  (not: both ones)
- I need more dollars, I have few  (not: few ones)