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Lucas21c Posted 11 years ago
Grammar
One/it
Could you confirm whether the underlined pronouns are right in the following conversation? Also, which one is right between (A) and (B)?
A: Are you going to buy a gift for Jason?
B: Yes. I was thinking of getting him a pair of trainers.
A: Sounds like a great idea! When are you going to buy one?
B: I will buy it [ (A) this evening / (B) in this evening ].
A: Are you going to buy a gift for Jason?
B: Yes. I was thinking of getting him a pair of trainers.
A: Sounds like a great idea! When are you going to buy one?
B: I will buy it [ (A) this evening / (B) in this evening ].
Top answer
A: Are you going to buy a gift for Jason? B: Yes. I was thinking of getting him a pair of trainers.
- A: Are you going to buy a gift for Jason?
- B: Yes.
- I was thinking of getting him a pair of trainers.
- A: Sounds like a great idea!
- When are you going to buy them?
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7 Answers
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A: Are you going to buy a gift for Jason?
B: Yes. I was thinking of getting him a pair of trainers.
A: Sounds like a great idea! When are you going to buy them?
B: (I'm going to buy them) this evening.
Usually you would not bother to say the part in brackets.
B: Yes. I was thinking of getting him a pair of trainers.
A: Sounds like a great idea! When are you going to buy them?
B: (I'm going to buy them) this evening.
Usually you would not bother to say the part in brackets.
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If I replace 'a pair of trainers' with 'a book,' the following conversation is right? Or, should I use 'it' instead of 'one'?
A: Are you going to buy a gift for Jason?
B: Yes. I was thinking of getting him a book.
A: Sounds like a great idea! When are you going to buy one?
B: (I'm going to buy it) this evening.
A: Are you going to buy a gift for Jason?
B: Yes. I was thinking of getting him a book.
A: Sounds like a great idea! When are you going to buy one?
B: (I'm going to buy it) this evening.
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lucas21cshould I use 'it' instead of 'one'?Normally yes. "one" is not totally impossible, but it feels unusual.
"one" could be used when a person is normally expected to own only one of a particular thing:
A: Don't you have a mobile phone?
B: No, but I'm going to buy one tomorrow.
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lucas21cThen does "I need a pencil. I'll buy one" also sound unusual?No, that sounds OK.
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Hmm...I think we have more than one pencils. Could you tell me why 'one' to 'a pencil' sounds natural while 'one' to "a book" sound unnatural?
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lucas21cHmm...I think we have more than one pencils.The "own only one of a particular thing" case was only meant as one example (hence I said "'one' could be used when ...). It was not meant as a complete explanation of every case when "one" might be used. Sorry if that was unclear.
lucas21cCould you tell me why 'one
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