Embedded Files
Common Mistakes
Common Mistakes
Do you have one mobile phone? Yes, I have it.
Do you have a mobile phone? Yes, I have one.
Do you think that this year will be more active than the last one?
Do you think that this year will be more active than last year?
That isn’t David’s umbrella, the one of David is striped.
That isn’t David’s umbrella, David’s is striped.
We didn’t go to Sigmund’s house, we went to the one of Petra.
We didn’t go to Sigmund’s house, we went to Petra’s.
Bill and Mary went to the movies. This one had already seen it.
Bill and Mary went to the movies. Bill had already seen it.
Correct Form
Correct Form
I have bought a new car - it is self-driving.
They have two cars. She has one and her husband has one.
I went to the shop to buy the new iPhone and I bought the last one.
Do you have a self-driving car? Yes, I have one.
Do you have it with you now? Yes, I do.
Have you found your mobile? Yes, I have found it.
Their two children - Jay and Kay - came with them. Jay is only five months old.
This one is bigger than that one.
Guidelines
Guidelines
a / an refer to a generic item, one is a number and means a single item rather than two or three.
do not use the one of to refer to an object belonging to a person (e.g. this is Adrian’s; not
this is the one of Adrian).
it refers to a particular item, not to a generic item.
English tends to repeat the noun rather than using one to replace the second mention of the noun. However, there are exceptions to this general rule.
one can be used in comparisons when the object in question has already been established.
this / that one are not used to refer back to people, instead repeat the name of the person.
Report abuse