one / ones
one / ones means “one/ones replace a noun already mentioned: a new one, the black ones”. To avoid repeating a noun, use one for a singular and ones for a plural: My old phone broke, so I bought a new one (= a new phone). Formation: one (singular) · ones (plural) — stand-ins for a noun
one/ones replace a noun already mentioned: a new one, the black ones
A2Formation
one (singular) · ones (plural) — stand-ins for a noun
Explanation
To avoid repeating a noun, use one for a singular and ones for a plural: My old phone broke, so I bought a new one (= a new phone). Often with adjectives (the red one) or in which-questions: Which ones do you want? It works for countable nouns only.
Examples
Note
Uncountables don't take one: I prefer white wine to red (not to red one ✗). With this/that alone, one is optional: I'll take this (one).
FAQ
one / ones — what does it mean and how is it used?
one/ones replace a noun already mentioned: a new one, the black ones. To avoid repeating a noun, use one for a singular and ones for a plural: My old phone broke, so I bought a new one (= a new phone). Often with adjectives (the red one) or in which-questions: Which ones do you want? It works for countable nouns only.
one / ones — how do you form it?
one (singular) · ones (plural) — stand-ins for a noun
one / ones — any usage notes?
Uncountables don't take one: I prefer white wine to red (not to red one ✗). With this/that alone, one is optional: I'll take this (one).