Grammar
One and ones: avoid repeating a noun
There are two coats on the chair. Instead of saying I will take the blue coat, you can say I will take the blue one. One replaces the repeated noun coat, while blue tells the listener which coat you mean.
Use one for a singular countable noun and ones for a plural countable noun when the listener can identify the noun you mean.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
I need the blue one, not the red one. /aɪ niːd ðə bluː wʌn nɒt ðə red wʌn/
The short answer
Use one to replace a singular countable noun and ones to replace a plural countable noun. Use them when the listener knows what noun you mean: the red one, the red ones.
I need a pen. Have you got a spare one?
Why it works: One replaces the singular countable noun pen, so the word pen does not need to be repeated.
5 more examples
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I chose the green notebook because the blue one was cheaper.
One replaces the singular countable noun notebook. Blue identifies the notebook being compared.
Not this:I chose the green notebooks because
the blue oneswere cheaper. What changes: Ones replaces the plural noun notebooks because the sentence compares several notebooks. -
Do you want this chair or that one?
One replaces chair. That points to the second chair in the choice.
Not this:Do you want these chairs or
those ones? What changes: Ones replaces chairs because the speaker is asking about more than one chair. -
Could you pass me the small bowl? I need the large one.
The adjective large helps the listener identify which bowl is needed.
Not this:Could you pass me the small bowls? I need
the large ones. What changes: Ones replaces the plural noun bowls after the adjective large. -
Which jacket is yours? The black one near the door.
One replaces jacket. The colour and location make the reference clear.
Not this:Which jackets are yours?
The black ones near the door. What changes: Ones replaces jackets because more than one jacket is being identified. -
These batteries are flat. Do you have new ones?
Ones replaces the plural countable noun batteries. New describes the replacements needed.
Not this:We need more rice, so please buy
another bag. What changes: Rice is uncountable, so ones cannot replace it. A countable container noun such as bag can be used instead.
Read the full guide
First find the noun that would otherwise be repeated. If it is singular and countable, use one. If it is plural and countable, use ones. Then make the reference clear with a word such as this, the, another, or an adjective. For uncountable nouns and possessive meanings, English usually uses another form.
Find the noun you do not want to repeat
Use one or ones when a countable noun has already appeared or is obvious in the situation. The replacement saves repetition, but it must still point clearly to the right noun.
I cannot find my phone. Can I use your one for a minute?
One means phone here. Your tells the listener whose phone the speaker wants to use.
What noun does one replace in Can I use your one?
It replaces phone, a singular countable noun.
Use one for one countable thing
Choose one when the missing noun is singular and countable. It commonly follows this, that, another, the, or an adjective. The word before one helps identify the thing.
This calculator is broken. Could I borrow that one?
That one means that calculator. Calculator is singular, so use one.
Complete the sentence: I need a quieter room. Is there a smaller ___?
Use one because room is a singular countable noun.
Use ones for plural countable things
Choose ones when the missing noun is plural and countable. It can follow these, those, the, or an adjective, just as one can. Check whether the noun means one item or several items before you choose the form.
The wooden shelves are stronger than the plastic ones.
Ones replaces shelves, so the plural form is needed.
Choose the word: These keys do not fit. Try the spare ___.
Use ones because keys is plural.
Make the reference clear
One and ones often need extra information. An adjective can describe the noun, and a phrase can show its place or purpose. This information helps the listener choose the correct thing from a group.
Please take the box on the top shelf, not the one by the door.
The phrase by the door identifies which box one replaces.
Which phrase makes the reference clear in the one by the door?
By the door tells the listener which box the speaker means.
Do not use one or ones for uncountable nouns
One and ones replace countable nouns. They do not replace uncountable nouns such as water, furniture, information, or advice. Repeat the uncountable noun, use some, or name a countable unit such as bottle, piece, or chair when that is the meaning.
We need more information before we decide.
Information is uncountable, so do not say more ones for more information.
Which sentence is correct: We need more furniture, or We need more ones?
Use We need more furniture because furniture is uncountable.
Use possessive pronouns for ownership
When the main meaning is ownership, use a possessive pronoun instead of my one, your ones, or similar forms. Mine, yours, his, hers, ours, and theirs already include the idea of the owned thing.
My umbrella is beside yours.
Yours means your umbrella. It is a possessive pronoun, so one is not needed.
Choose the natural ending: This seat is ___ .
Use mine, yours, his, hers, ours, or theirs, depending on the owner.
Before you go
Remember this
Use one for one countable thing and ones for countable things in the plural. Put a determiner, adjective, or phrase around the word when the listener needs help identifying the noun. Do not use one or ones for uncountable nouns, and use mine, yours, his, hers, ours, or theirs for possession.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "One and ones: avoid repeating a noun"
What is the difference between one and ones?
One replaces a singular countable noun, while ones replaces a plural countable noun. In I chose the green notebook because the blue one was cheaper, one means notebook. In the plural version, the blue ones means the blue notebooks.
I chose the green notebook because the blue one was cheaper.
Can one replace any noun?
No. Use one and ones for countable nouns that the listener can identify. Do you want this chair or that one? works because one means chair. Do not use ones to replace an uncountable noun such as water, furniture, advice, or information.
I chose the green notebooks because the blue ones were cheaper.
What words can come before one or ones?
One and ones often follow a word or phrase that identifies the noun. Common patterns include this one, another one, the large one, and the ones near the door. In The black one near the door, the colour and location show which jacket is meant.
Do you want this chair or that one?
Can I use ones after these and those?
Yes, when ones makes the reference clear. Do you want these chairs or those ones? uses ones for a group of chairs. In some short contexts, these or those alone can be enough, but ones is useful when you want to repeat the noun idea clearly.
Do you want these chairs or those ones?
Why do I say mine instead of my one?
Use a possessive pronoun when you mean ownership. Mine, yours, his, hers, ours, and theirs already stand for the owned noun. My umbrella is beside yours means beside your umbrella, so your one is not needed in that sentence.
Could you pass me the small bowl? I need the large one.