| 词组 | one you and they used for people in general |
| 释义 | Contents overview one , you and they : used for people in general181 one, you and they: used for people in general1one and you: meaningWe can use one or you to talk about people in general, including the speaker and hearer.One/You cannot learn a language in six weeks.One/You should never give people advice.2one and you: formality and classOne is more formal than you (and more common in writing than in speech). Compare:If you want to make people angry, you just have to tell them the truth.If one wishes to make oneself thoroughly unpopular, one has merely to tell people the truth.One is often considered typical of more upper-class and intellectual usage, and is avoided by many people for this reason. It is less common in American English than in British English.3one and you: only used in generalisationsOne and you are only used in this way in very general statements, when we are talking about 'anyone, at any time'. Compare:–One/You can usually find people who speak English in Sweden.English is spoken in this shop. or They speak English in this shop. (not One speaks English … – the meaning is not 'people in general')–One/You should knock before going into somebody's room.Somebody's knocking at the door. (not One is knocking …)–It can take you/one ages to get served in this pub.Thanks, I'm being served. (not Thanks, one is serving me.)One generally has a singular meaning: 'any individual'; it is not used to refer to whole groups.We speak a strange dialect where I come from. (not One speaks a strange dialect where I come from.)4people including the speaker/hearerOne is not used for people who could not include the speaker; you is not used for people who could not include the hearer. Compare:One/You must believe in something.In the sixteenth century people believed in witches. (not … one/you believed in witches – this could not include the speaker or hearer.)5one/you as subject, object, etcOne can be a subject or object; there is a possessive one's and a reflexive pronoun oneself.He talks to one like a teacher.One's family can be very difficult.One should always give oneself plenty of time to pack.You/your/yourself can be used in similar ways.British English uses one/one's for a reference back.One should always try to keep one's temper.American English generally avoids this, traditionally preferring he/him/his.One should always try to keep his temper.However, the use of he/him/his for people in general is now seen as sexist and also avoided (328.2).6theyThey has a rather different, less general kind of meaning than one and you. It usually refers to a particular but rather vague group (for example the neighbours, the people around, the authorities).They don't like strangers round here.They're going to widen the road soon.I bet they put taxes up next year.Note also the common expression they say (= people say).They say her husband's been seeing that Smith woman again. (not One says …)Previous Next |
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