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Asuk Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

About the pronoun "one"

I don't why you use the pronoun "one". For example, why should you use it in the following sentence?
"Which is your watch, this one or that one?"

Instead of the sentence above, can I say "Which is your watch, this or that?"

When should you use the pronoun?

Thanks in advance.
  

Top answer

Using the pronoun "one" is simply the speaker's recognition that it is, in fact, two watches that he is asking about, but without repeating the word watch . Which is your watch, this [one / watch] or that [one / watch]? Without "one", it seems that the speaker has failed to recognize what he is asking about, as if there were a puppy in one basket and a kitten in another and asking Which is your watch, this or that?

— CalifJim

  • Using the pronoun "one" is simply the speaker's recognition that it is, in fact, two watches that he is asking about, but without repeating the word watch .
  • Which is your watch, this [one / watch] or that [one / watch]?
  • Without "one", it seems that the speaker has failed to recognize what he is asking about, as if there were a puppy in one basket and a kitten in another and asking Which is your watch, this or that?
  • which, as you can see, is absurd because it's asking Which is your watch, this puppy or that kitten?
  • In short, you don't absolutely need "one", but It sounds more complete that way.
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1 Answers
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Using the pronoun "one" is simply the speaker's recognition that it is, in fact, two watches that he is asking about, but without repeating the word watch.

Which is your watch, this [one / watch] or that [one / watch]?

Without "one", it seems that the speaker has failed to recognize what he is asking about, as if there were a puppy in one basket and a kitten
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