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Teo Posted 21 years ago
Grammar

one

Wow! You have so many comic books! Can I borrow ___?

(A) a comic book (B) one

The answer is B. Why is A incorrect?
  

Top answer

Hi Teo, Since the 'comic books' was already mentioned in the sentence, it is better to avoid using 'a comic book' again.

— Rishonly

  • Hi Teo, Since the 'comic books' was already mentioned in the sentence, it is better to avoid using 'a comic book' again.
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9 Answers
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Hi Teo,

Since the 'comic books' was already mentioned in the sentence, it is better to avoid using 'a comic book' again.
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(A) is not grammatically incorrect. It is stylistically incorrect.
CJ
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cuz "comic books" was already mentioned beforehand.
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CalifJim(A) is not grammatically incorrect. It is stylistically incorrect.
CJ

1. All the girls in our class are cute, but I like the most friendly.
2. All the girls in our class are cute, but I like the most friendly one.
3. All the girls in our class are cute, but I like the most friendly girl.
#2 is the correct answer.
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1 has an adjective without a noun connected. If you shorten the sentences to:

I like the most friendly.

I like the most friendly girl.

You can see that the first one is incomplete.
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Vorpar1 has an adjective without a noun connected. If you shorten the sentences to:

I like the most friendly.

I like the most friendly girl.

You can see that the first one is incomplete.

But according to Practical English Usage, by Michael Swan, 2005, one(s) can be left out after superlativ
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When you say, "May I borrow one," you are referring specifically to his collection of comic books. The pronoun "one" refers to his comic books.

May I borrow "a comic book" may, or may not, refer to his collection.

Maybe it's just beetter to make it clear that you would like to borrow ONE from his collection. Or don't you?

Just another thought.

Ikia
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May I borrow "a comic book" may, or may not, refer to his collection.
Excellent point you make there. "one" is a pronoun, and as such it refers back to something previously stated. Repeating the noun can't do that with as great precision.

CJ
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Teo1. All the girls in our class are cute, but I like the most friendly.
2. All the girls in our class are cute, but I like the most friendly one.
3. All the girls in our class are cute, but I like the most friendly girl.
#2 is the correct answer. Now I know #3 is stylistically incorrect. But what's wrong with #1?


Hello Teo
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