One

Question

Today more and more people have cell phones, and even most young people have one.I think the first 'cell phones' could be 'a cell phone' according to the theory of 'distributive singular'. But what about the last 'one'? Is it possible to use 'ones' instead (personally, I think it would sound strange if it was replaced with 'ones')? If it's impossible, why?

Avangi · Accepted Answer

Good question. I don't know. We say they have big ones and little ones, but we can't say they have ones. We'd say "most young people have them ." (But this means "one or more," while "one" means "one." But it doesn't mean they can't have two).

I hope my having replied won't prevent others from providing a better answer.

You're right about the first one, BTW. "more and more people have a cell phone" is fine.

Taka · Answer

AvangiGood question. I don't know. We say they have big ones and little ones, but we can't say they have ones. We'd say "most young people have them ." (But this means "one or more," while "one" means "one." But it doesn't mean they can't have two).

Right. Most of the grammar books I have say we need an adjective, or some qualifier, when we use such a 'ones', and I wonder why...

Cwtch · Answer

Ones
Ones\, adv. Once. [Obs.] --Chaucer.

To me ones is the plural of one the noun. Look at that stack of ones on the table; that must be a thousand dollars. Americans call one dollar bills ones.

–noun

10.	the first and lowest whole number, being a cardinal number; unity.

11.	a symbol of this number, as 1 or I.

12.	a single person or thing: If only problems would come one at a time!

13.	a die face or a domino face having one pip.

14.	a one-dollar bill: to change a five-dollar bill for five ones.

15.	(initial capital letter) Neoplatonism. the ultimate reality, seen as a central source of being by whose emanations all entities, spiritual and corporeal, have their existence, the corporeal ones containing the fewest of the emanations.

But in the original sentence one is an adjective and adjectives don't have plurals.

One

Adjective

1.

being or amounting to a single unit or individual or entire thing, item, or object rather than two or more; a single: one woman; one nation; one piece of cake. You can't have ones woman or ones nation. You can have one's woman or one's nation but that's a possessive.

The same sort of confusion could occur with the word 'cold'.

People have colds but people are cold.

Avangi · Answer

Hi cwtch. I'm not convinced it's as simple as you say, nor am I convinced it's not.

cwtchTo me ones is the plural of one the noun. Look at that stack of ones on the table; that must be a thousand dollars. This seems like the one legitimate exception.

But in the original sentence one is an adjective and adjectives don't have plurals. I'm not so sure it's an adjective. "Most young people have one."

The same sort of confusion could occur with the word 'cold'.

People have colds but people are cold. But there's a difference in the verb here. The being verb may take an adjectival complement.

In the sentence, "Most people have one," "one" is direct object of the verb, and therefore nominal.

"Are you looking for Americans? We are ones."' I'm really stumped as to whether "ones" in this sentence is a noun or an adjective. My instinct tells me it's a noun. Rgdz, - A.

Yankee · Answer

Hi Taka

We've discussed the same sentence (and also "one" vs "ones") before:

Cwtch · Answer

Hi cwtch. I'm not convinced it's as simple as you say, nor am I convinced it's not.

Convinced is a strong word. I won't say that I'm convinced either. I'm reasonably certain I'm right but I certainly wouldn't mind affirmation.

You could look at it this way:

But in the original sentence one is an adjective and adjectives don't have plurals. I'm not so sure it's an adjective.

"Most young people have one." Most young people have one

. It is the adjectival form of one with the noun being implied.

Here, as an adjective it can't be "ones phone" If it was more than one it would be a two phones, a few phones, many phones ect.

Avangi · Answer

cwtch I won't say that I'm convinced either.

If you want a thrill, take a look at the thread Yankee has just referenced. It'll blow your socks off.

Yankee · Answer

To me, the word "one" in Taka's sentence is a noun/http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=55405&dict=CALD.

TakaToday more and more people have cell phones, and even most young people have one.

The plural form "ones" could be used if "cell phones" were further restricted/defined/specified, for example:

- Today more and more people have cell phones, and young people tend to have the most expensive ones .

Taka · Answer

YankeeHi Taka

We've discussed the same sentence (and also "one" vs "ones") before:

OH!, I had forgotten I have. Thanks for the reminder, Amy.

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