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Usenet Posted 22 years ago
English in UK
When does one say 'one'?
Hallo,
something I still don't understand in (british) English is the usage of 'one'. In old movies, or speeches by (older) people, it is normally used in the way 'one does', 'one knows' etc.
However, I've also heard it in mock Queen's speeches or when some person was to be portrayed as posh.
So I'm a bit confused; is it normal if one uses one? Does it sound - to a native speaker - strange, weird or normal?
In German, the equivalent to this usage of 'one' is 'you', and I'm always tempted to use this instead of 'one' as I feel very uncertain about it, and I've also heard native speakers using 'you' instead of 'one'.
Now, I would appreciate any help on this!
Best wishes,
Gunter
something I still don't understand in (british) English is the usage of 'one'. In old movies, or speeches by (older) people, it is normally used in the way 'one does', 'one knows' etc.
However, I've also heard it in mock Queen's speeches or when some person was to be portrayed as posh.
So I'm a bit confused; is it normal if one uses one? Does it sound - to a native speaker - strange, weird or normal?
In German, the equivalent to this usage of 'one' is 'you', and I'm always tempted to use this instead of 'one' as I feel very uncertain about it, and I've also heard native speakers using 'you' instead of 'one'.
Now, I would appreciate any help on this!
Best wishes,
Gunter
Top answer
[nq:1]Hallo, something I still don't understand in (british) English is the usage of 'one'. [/nq] Yes, it's less common than it used to be, which is why you mainly hear older people use it. ", whereas using "you", "he" or "I" is referring to a specific person.
- [nq:1]Hallo, something I still don't understand in (british) English is the usage of 'one'.
- [/nq] Yes, it's less common than it used to be, which is why you mainly hear older people use it.
- ", whereas using "you", "he" or "I" is referring to a specific person.
- " Sounds a bit 1920s to me.
- [nq:1]So I'm a bit confused; is it normal if one uses one?
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24 Answers
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[nq:1]Hallo, something I still don't understand in (british) English is the usage of 'one'. In old movies, or speeches by (older) people, it is normally used in the way 'one does', 'one knows' etc.[/nq]
Yes, it's less common than it used to be, which is why you mainly hear older people use it.
It's the impersonal pronoun, so "how does one do this?" means the same as "how is this done?", wh
Yes, it's less common than it used to be, which is why you mainly hear older people use it.
It's the impersonal pronoun, so "how does one do this?" means the same as "how is this done?", wh
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[nq:1]In German, the equivalent to this usage of 'one' is 'you', and I'm always tempted to use this instead of 'one' as I feel very uncertain about it, and I've also heard native speakers using 'you' instead of 'one'.[/nq]
In fact, the German equivalent of "one" is "man" - only in very very casual (and anglicised) use have I ever heard "du" used in this sense.
To my ear using "one" so
In fact, the German equivalent of "one" is "man" - only in very very casual (and anglicised) use have I ever heard "du" used in this sense.
To my ear using "one" so
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[nq:2]In German, the equivalent to this usage of 'one' is ... I've also heard native speakers using 'you' instead of 'one'.[/nq]
[nq:1]Interesting. I always considered the German equivalent of "one" to be "man": "Wie schreibt man das?" - "How does one ... "How do you spell that?", or sometimes "How do I spell that?" Is "man" still in common use in German?[/nq]
Sorry - this was my mistake f
[nq:1]Interesting. I always considered the German equivalent of "one" to be "man": "Wie schreibt man das?" - "How does one ... "How do you spell that?", or sometimes "How do I spell that?" Is "man" still in common use in German?[/nq]
Sorry - this was my mistake f
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[nq:1]something I still don't understand in (british) English is the usage of 'one'. In old movies, or speeches by (older) ... etc. However, I've also heard it in mock Queen's speeches or when some person was to be portrayed as posh.[/nq]
It's a joke related to the Royal "We" (traditionally, the monarch never says "I", always "We") - pretentious members of the royal family have been caught say
It's a joke related to the Royal "We" (traditionally, the monarch never says "I", always "We") - pretentious members of the royal family have been caught say
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[nq:2]In German, the equivalent to this usage of 'one' is ... I've also heard native speakers using 'you' instead of 'one'.[/nq]
[nq:1]In fact, the German equivalent of "one" is "man" - only in very very casual (and anglicised) use have I ever heard "du" used in this sense.[/nq]
I've heard it several times and never thought of it as anglicised - is it really? As I've written before, I thou
[nq:1]In fact, the German equivalent of "one" is "man" - only in very very casual (and anglicised) use have I ever heard "du" used in this sense.[/nq]
I've heard it several times and never thought of it as anglicised - is it really? As I've written before, I thou
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[nq:2]Where about?[/nq]
[nq:1]Saxony[/nq]
That's nice - I have spent almost eight years of my live in Leipzig!
Best wishes,
Gunter
[nq:1]Saxony[/nq]
That's nice - I have spent almost eight years of my live in Leipzig!
Best wishes,
Gunter
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[nq:1]It's a joke related to the Royal "We" (traditionally, the monarch never says "I", always "We")[/nq]
But when do they do so? I've listened to some recordings of speeches delivered by the Queen and she always said "I", or "Prince Philip/the Duke of Edinburgh and I".
P.S. In fact, I watched "Shakespeare in Love", where Queen Elizabeth I/Judi Dench says, for instance, "I know who I am",
But when do they do so? I've listened to some recordings of speeches delivered by the Queen and she always said "I", or "Prince Philip/the Duke of Edinburgh and I".
P.S. In fact, I watched "Shakespeare in Love", where Queen Elizabeth I/Judi Dench says, for instance, "I know who I am",
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FB
(Email Removed)wrote
[nq:2]It's a joke related to the Royal "We" (traditionally, the monarch neversays "I", always "We")[/nq]
[nq:1]But when do they do so? I've listened to some recordings of speeches delivered by the Queen and she always ... the context? One would be grateful if someone could shed some light on the matter. (kidding, ça va sans dire)[/nq]
Ol' Lizzy didn't know h
(Email Removed)wrote
[nq:2]It's a joke related to the Royal "We" (traditionally, the monarch neversays "I", always "We")[/nq]
[nq:1]But when do they do so? I've listened to some recordings of speeches delivered by the Queen and she always ... the context? One would be grateful if someone could shed some light on the matter. (kidding, ça va sans dire)[/nq]
Ol' Lizzy didn't know h
00
[nq:2]It's a joke related to the Royal "We" (traditionally, the monarch never says "I", always "We")[/nq]
[nq:1]But when do they do so? I've listened to some recordings of speeches delivered by the Queen and she always ... the context? One would be grateful if someone could shed some light on the matter. (kidding, ça va sans dire)[/nq]
I wouldn't take the dialoge in "Shakespeare in Love" a
[nq:1]But when do they do so? I've listened to some recordings of speeches delivered by the Queen and she always ... the context? One would be grateful if someone could shed some light on the matter. (kidding, ça va sans dire)[/nq]
I wouldn't take the dialoge in "Shakespeare in Love" a
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