Google
English-Test.net
Find penpals and make new friends today!
 
to hang; to postpone; to defer; to expel
refuse
pipe
seek
suspend
full quiz correct answer
 
Username
Password
 Remember me? 
Search   Album   FAQ   Memberlist   Profile   Private messages   Register   Log in 

"those" or "the ones"?



 
ESL/EFL Worksheets and Handouts for Students Printable, photocopiable, clearly structured
Designed for teachers and individual learners
For use in a classroom, at home, on your PC
ESL Forums | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
usage of "lack", "lacking" | Ever: Less than half; More than half; Most people
listening exercisestell a friend
Message
Author
"those" or "the ones"? #1 (permalink) Tue Aug 07, 2007 3:04 am   "those" or "the ones"?
 

Hello everyone,
Can I use "the ones" instead of "those" in this sentence? Are they interchangeable here?

Quote:
The results of this experiment are more reliable than those of that experiment.
Guinevere
I'm new here and I like it ;-)


Joined: 02 Aug 2007
Posts: 29

"those" or "the ones"? #2 (permalink) Tue Aug 07, 2007 10:31 am   "those" or "the ones"?
 

I will use 'those' but not 'the ones'.

The books are good. I want them (the books).
My watch is gone. I want to buy a new one.(the one is another one, not the one you lost.)
not 'I want to buy it.'

My watches are all gone.
I want to buy some. (OK)
I want to buy ones. (I've never heard of this.)
I want to buy the ones. (wrong)
Edison_Chen_e_c
I'm here quite often ;-)


Joined: 23 Jul 2007
Posts: 206

Do you know how to use the relative pronoun?English grammar exercises — improve your English knowledge and vocabulary skillsAre you a native speaker of English? Then you should read this!Have you read a good anecdote today? Subscribe to free email English course
"those" or "the ones"? #3 (permalink) Tue Aug 07, 2007 10:46 am   "those" or "the ones"?
 

guinevere wrote:
Hello everyone,
Can I use "the ones" instead of "those" in this sentence? Are they interchangeable here? Yes

Quote:
The results of this experiment are more reliable than those of that experiment.


Generally speaking, you can use 'the ones' interchangeably with "those" only when you define "which ones" you are referring to (as you did in your sentence).

You cannot say this because "the ones" is not clarified/defined:
These results are more accurate than the ones. X

But you can say this:
These results are more accurate than the ones from last week.
.
_________________
"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~ Abraham Lincoln
Yankee
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 16 Apr 2006
Posts: 8316
Location: USA

"those" or "the ones"? #4 (permalink) Tue Aug 07, 2007 11:33 am   "those" or "the ones"?
 

Hi, Amy

Look at these 2 rings on my finger. Arent they splendid?
Yes, I want to buy ones (in the local shop)

Could you tell me if it is a valid dialog?
thanks
Lost_Soul
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 15 Sep 2006
Posts: 1861
Location: South Park, Colorado, USA

"those" or "the ones"? #5 (permalink) Tue Aug 07, 2007 12:34 pm   "those" or "the ones"?
 

Hi LS

In your sentence you could use 'some' or 'a few' or 'a couple', but not 'ones'. (You could also use the word 'one' if you only want to buy one ring.)

Note that in my previous post I was referring specifically to "the ones".

"I want to buy some rings just like the ones you have."
.
_________________
"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~ Abraham Lincoln
Yankee
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 16 Apr 2006
Posts: 8316
Location: USA

"those" or "the ones"? #6 (permalink) Tue Aug 07, 2007 13:08 pm   "those" or "the ones"?
 

Hi, Amy

Yeah, I see what you're saying.
Thank you
Lost_Soul
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 15 Sep 2006
Posts: 1861
Location: South Park, Colorado, USA

"those" or "the ones"? #7 (permalink) Thu Sep 06, 2007 8:03 am   "those" or "the ones"?
 

Thanks! But in this sentence "The results of this experiment are more reliable than those of that experiment.", "of that experiment" is specifying, so that "the one" could be used...does it not?
Guinevere
I'm new here and I like it ;-)


Joined: 02 Aug 2007
Posts: 29

"those" or "the ones"? #8 (permalink) Thu Sep 06, 2007 8:22 am   "those" or "the ones"?
 

Hi Guinevere,

I see your point - you are making the distinction between 'this experiment' and 'that experiment'. Consequently you have 'results of this experiment and 'the ones of that experiment'. Seems all right to me.

Alan
_________________
English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Present Simple
Alan
Co-founder
Alan Townend

Joined: 27 Sep 2003
Posts: 13891
Location: UK

Display posts from previous:   
usage of "lack", "lacking" | Ever: Less than half; More than half; Most people
ESL Forums | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms All times are GMT + 1 Hour
Page 1 of 1
Latest topics on ESL EFL Forums
The use of "tell on"Use of 'As Is' (..., choose a technique that allows you to measure it 'as is')Expression: "She was walking in bare feet."Phrase: "Catch up with the watchrooms.""Went to war" vs "Went to a war"The use of commas in formal (informal) lettersUsage of expressions: hold up; chew throughit's beginning to dawn on mePhrase: "The early mornings"Expression: "Let's go a lot of shopping."Expression: "One Britain pound is equal to 150 Pakistani rupees."Expression: "Please don't shake your leg."meaning of there is so a tooth fairy

 
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
Subscribe to FREE email English course
First name E-mail