one (a personal pronoun)

Meanings

1. 1pronounformal

   Used instead of 'I' or 'you' to mean any person in general, including the speaker.

   Grammar: Refers to people in general; in British English it can also mean 'I', which sounds formal or upper-class.

   Patterns

   • one should do something
   • one does not do something
   • if one wants something

   One should always check the label before taking medicine.

   If one wants to learn a language, one must practice every day.

   One never knows what will happen next.

2. 2pronoun

   Used to refer back to a countable noun already mentioned, so the noun is not repeated.

   Grammar: Stands for a singular countable noun: 'a red pen and a blue one' means 'a red pen and a blue pen'.

   Patterns

   • a/an + adjective + one
   • the one (that/with ...)
   • which one

   I don't like this chair; I prefer the old one.

   She bought a new phone because her old one broke.

   Which one do you want, the small one or the big one?

Common combinations

one another

They looked at one another and smiled.

one by one

The teacher called our names one by one.

one of a kind

Her paintings are one of a kind.

the one and only

Here is the one and only Maria Callas.

one or two

I have one or two questions about the report.

Synonyms and how they differ

you

In everyday speech, 'you' is far more common than 'one' for talking about people in general.

we

'We' includes the speaker and others, while 'one' is more impersonal and general.

they

'They' can mean people in general but usually suggests other people, not the speaker.

Word family

oneself pronoun

Reflexive form meaning one's own self: 'One should not tire oneself out.'

one's determiner

Possessive form: 'One should do one's best.'

Commonly confused: one (a personal pronoun) or a? one (a personal pronoun) or once?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “one (a personal pronoun)”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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