Indefinite pronoun «one»

Examples

Functions

One should always be polite. How does one get to 5^th Avenue from here? One must keep one’s word.

one means any person, people in general. The subject of an impersonal sentence. (usually not translated)

This book is more interesting than the one we read last week. Here are two books. Which one would you like?

Any function for replacing a noun already mentioned.

One should take care of one’s health. One should take care of his health. One should take care of his or her health.

Notice the pronouns that may be used in the same sentence to refer back to one.

Examples

Functions

Both these children are mine.

These children are both mine.

Both my children are boys.

They both accepted the invitation.

You are both right.

They have both been invited.

We must both go there.

Both is plural in meaning and applied only to two persons or things.

a) Take either book. I don’t mind which.

The news didn’t shock either of them.

Have you seen either of your parents

today?

b) You may go by either road.

The houses on either side were tall and

big.

Either refers to two persons or things and has two meanings.

a) one or the other of two;

2. each of two; both.

Neither brother has been abroad.

We accepted neither offer.

Neither of the statements is true.

Neither means not the one nor the other.

If the main verb of the sentence is in the present, no change is made in the verb tense or modal in the object clause.

If the main verb of the sentence is in the past, the verb in the object clause is usually also in a past form.

He sais (that) he works hard.

He said (that) he worked hard.

He sais (that) he is working hard.

He said (that) he was working hard.

If the action of the object clause is simultaneous with that of the principal clause, the Past Indefinite or the Past Continuous is used in the object clause no matter which Past tense-aspect form is found in the principal clause.

He sais (that) he worked hard.

He said (that) he had worked hard.

He sais (that) he was working hard.

He said (that) he had been working hard.

He sais (that) she has already left.

He said (that) she had already left.

If the action of the object clause precedes that of the principal clause, the Past Perfect or the Past Perfect Continuous is used in the object clause no matter which Past tense-aspect form is found in the principal clause.

He sais (that) he will work hard.

He said (that) he would work hard.

He sais (that) he will have finished the work by September.

He said (that) he would have finished the work by September.

He sais (that) he will be working hard all day long.

He said (that) he would be working hard all day long.

If the action of the object clause follows that of the principal clause, the Future- in-the-Past or one of the other means of expressing future actions viewed from the past is used in the object clause no matter which Past tense-aspect form is found in the principal clause.

He sais (that) he is going to work hard.

He said (that) he was going to work hard.

He sais (that) he can work hard.

He said (that) he could work hard.

He sais (that) he may work hard.

He said (that) he might work hard.

He sais (that) he has to work hard.

He said (that) he had to work hard.

He sais (that) he must work hard.

He said (that) he had to work hard.

He sais (that) he should work hard.

He said (that) he should work hard.

He sais (that) he ought to work hard.

He said (that) he ought to work hard.

The rules of sequence of tenses cannot be observed with certain modal verbs which have only one form. (must, should, ought and need)

Infinitive

Active voice

Passive voice

Uses

Indefinite

to write

to come

to be written

—

the action is simultaneous with that expressed by the finite verb.

He wants to write her about it. He wants to be written about it.

Continuous

to be writing

to be coming

—

—

the action is temporary and not a usual one.

He may be writing a new novel.

Perfect

to have written

to have come

to have been written

—

the action precedes

that of the predicate.

I am glad to have written her about it. I was surprised to have been written about it.

Perfect Continuous

to have been writing

to have been coming

—

—

the action began before the time indicated by

the predicate and is still going on.

He is said to have been writing this novel for 2 years already.

Functions

Examples

Subject

To know him is to trust him.

It is difficult to translate this text.

Predicative

Our aim is to master English.

What I want is to be left alone.

Part of a Compound Verbal Predicate

We must stay at home.

We decided to work together.

Object

He asked me to wait.

He promised to come in time.

Attribute

He is always the first to come.

The article to be translated is on the table.

Adverbial Modifier

I have come here to help you.

The problem is too complicated to be solved at once.

A. VERBS FOLLOWED IMMEDIATELY BY AN INFINITIVE

1. afford

2. agree

3. appear

4. arrange

5. ask

6. beg

7. care

8. claim

9. consent

10. decide

11. demand

12. deserve

13. expect

14. fail

15. forget

16. hesitate

17. hope

18. learn

19. manage

20. mean

21. need

22. offer

23. plan

24. prepare

25. pretend

26. promise

27. refuse

28. regret

29. remember

30. seem

31. struggle

32. swear

33. threaten

34. volunteer

35. wait

36. want

37. wish

I can’t afford to buy it.

They agreed to help us.

She appears to be tired.

I’ll arrange to meet you at the airport.

He asked to come with us.

He begged to come with us.

I don’t care to see that show.

She claims to know a famous movie star.

She finally consented to marry him.

I have decided to leave on Monday.

I demand to know who is responsible.

She deserves to win the prize.

I expect to enter graduate school next year.

She failed to return the book to the library in time. I forgot to mail the letter.

Don’t hesitate to ask for my help.

Jack hopes to arrive next week.

He learnt/learned to play the piano.

She managed to finish her work early.

I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.

I need to have your opinion.

They offered to help us.

I am planning to have a party.

We prepared to welcome them.

He pretends not to understand.

I promise not to be late.

I refuse to believe his story.

I regret to tell you that you failed.

I remembered to lock the door.

That cat seems to be friendly.

I struggled to stay awake.

She swore to tell the truth.

She threatened to tell my parents.

He volunteered to help us.

I will wait to hear from you.

I want to tell you something.

She wishes to come with us.

B. VERBS FOLLOWED BY A (PRO)NOUN + AN INFINITIVE

1. advise

2. allow

3. ask

4. beg

5. cause

6. challenge

7. convince

8. dare

9. encourage

10. expect

11. forbid

12. force

13. hire

14. instruct

15. invite

16. need

17. order

18. permit

19. persuade

20. remind

21. require

22. teach

23. tell

24. urge

25. want

26. warn

She advised me to wait until tomorrow.

She allowed me to use her car.

I asked John to help us.

They begged us to come.

Her laziness caused her to fail.

She challenged me to race her to the corner.

I couldn’t convince him to accept our help.

He dared me to do better than he had done.

He encouraged me to try again.

I expect you to be in time.

I forbid you to tell him.

They forced him to tell the truth.

She hired a boy to mow the lawn.

He instructed them to be careful.

Harry invited the Johnsons to come to his party.

We needed Chris to help us figure out the solution.

The judge ordered me to pay a fine.

He permitted the children to stay up late.

I persuaded him to come for a visit.

She reminded me to lock the door.

Our teacher requires us to be in time.

My brother taught me to swim.

The doctor told me to take these pills.

I urged her to apply for the job.

I want you to be happy.

I warned you not to drive too fast.