one
used instead of a noun phrase
You can use one instead of a noun phrase beginning with a when it is clear what sort of thing you are talking about. For example, instead of saying ‘If you want a drink, I’ll get you a drink', you say ‘If you want a drink, I’ll get you one'.
Although she wasn't a rich customer, she looked and acted like one.
The cupboards were empty except for one at the top of the bookshelves.
Be careful
You can't use a plural form of ‘one’ in this kind of sentence. Don't say, for example, ‘If you like grapes, I’ll get you ones'. Say ‘If you like grapes, I’ll get you some'.
You can't use a plural form of ‘one’ in this kind of sentence. Don't say, for example, ‘If you like grapes, I’ll get you ones'. Say ‘If you like grapes, I’ll get you some'.
The shelves contained Daisy's books, mostly novels but some on history and philosophy too.
We need more helicopters. There are some, but we need more.
used instead of a noun
You can use one or ones instead of a countable noun when the noun comes after an adjective. For example, instead of saying ‘I’ve had this car a long time, and I'm thinking of getting a new car', you say ‘I’ve had this car a long time, and I'm thinking of getting a new one'.
I got this trumpet for thirty pounds. It's quite a good one.
This idea has become a very popular one.
We made money from buying old houses and building new ones.
You can also use one or ones instead of a countable noun in front of a relative clause or a prepositional phrase.
Of all the subjects, science was the one I loved best.
Could I see that map again – the one with lines across it?
You can use one instead of a singular countable noun when the noun comes immediately after any determiner except ‘a’. For example, instead of saying ‘I bought these masks when I was in Africa. That mask came from Kenya’, you say ‘I bought these masks when I was in Africa. That one came from Kenya’.
We need to buy a new car. This one's too small.
He took the glasses and wrapped each one carefully.
She had a bowl of soup, then went back for another one.
Be careful
Don't use ‘the one’ in front of ‘of’ and a name. Don't say, for example, ‘This is my mug. That’s the one of Jane'. You say ‘This is my mug. That’s Jane's'.
Don't use ‘the one’ in front of ‘of’ and a name. Don't say, for example, ‘This is my mug. That’s the one of Jane'. You say ‘This is my mug. That’s Jane's'.
He has a northern accent like Brian's.
➜ See one - you - we - they