"those" or "the ones"?

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

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

2

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.)
[color=red]not ‘I want to buy it.’

My watches are all gone.
[color=green]I want to buy some. (OK)
[color=red]I want to buy ones. (I’ve never heard of this.)
[color=red]I want to buy the ones. (wrong)

3

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:
[color=red]These results are more accurate than the ones. [color=red]X

But you can say this:
[color=blue]These results are more accurate than the ones from last week.
.

4

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

5

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.”
.

6

Hi, Amy

Yeah, I see what you’re saying.
Thank you

7

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?

8

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