Question 1
I like the blue car, but my husband prefers the green _____.
We use one instead of repeating a singular countable noun. Here the green one means the green car.
Question 2
Ed offered me a glass of wine, but I told him I didn't want _____.
One replaces the singular noun a glass of wine: I didn't want one means I didn't want a glass. Ones is only for plural nouns.
Question 3
There's a huge pile of bottles here. Which _____ are recyclable?
Ones replaces a plural noun, here bottles. The plural verb are shows that we need the plural form: Which ones are recyclable?
Question 4
- "Those flowers are pretty!"
- "They're the _____ I picked from the garden this morning."
Ones replaces the plural noun flowers. The plural They're is the clue: They're the ones I picked.
Question 5
"Who would like a drink?" - "I'd like _____."
One replaces the singular noun a drink: I'd like one means I'd like a drink.
Question 6
I've sorted the applications into two piles. These are the applications I've already looked at, and these are the _____ I still need to review.
Ones replaces the plural noun applications. The plural these are is the clue: these are the ones I still need to review.
Question 7
If you need a wedding photographer, I can recommend _____.
One replaces the singular noun a wedding photographer: I can recommend one means I know a good photographer.
Question 8
- "Which pictures are these?"
- "The _____ I took in Bali."
Ones replaces the plural noun pictures: The ones I took in Bali means the pictures I took in Bali.
Question 9
_____ of your friends called to ask if you're free on Saturday night, but I can't remember his name.
We say one of + plural noun to mean a single person from a group: One of your friends called. The words his name show it is one person.
Question 10
_____ of Kevin's fingers is broken.
One of + plural noun takes a singular verb: One of Kevin's fingers is broken. Ones of is not correct English.
Question 11
Will the dental surgery be covered _____ insurance?
The expression is covered by insurance, meaning the insurance company will pay for it. We use by after the passive verb be covered.
Question 12
Ethan is due _____ a tetanus shot.
Be due for something means it is the right time for it now: Ethan is due for a tetanus shot means it is time for his next shot. Example: My car is due for a service.
Question 13
Before seeing his next patient, Dr. Drake gave the woman's file a once _____.
Give something a once-over means to look at it quickly to check it. The doctor quickly looked through the woman's file. The idiom is usually written with a hyphen: once-over.
Question 14
I'm afraid my front teeth are loose, but maybe it's just a figment _____ my imagination.
A figment of your imagination is something you think is real but is not. The fixed phrase always uses of: a figment of my imagination.
Question 15
If you feel tired all the time, you should go to the doctor and get to the bottom _____ it.
Get to the bottom of something means to find the real cause of a problem. The idiom always uses of: get to the bottom of it.
Question 16
In the springtime, Tanya's allergies act _____.
The phrasal verb act up means to cause problems or to get worse. Tanya's allergies act up means they become bad in spring. Example: My back acts up when it's cold.
Question 17
When the receptionist asked for my insurance number, I told her I couldn't remember it _____ the top of my head.
Off the top of my head means from memory, without checking or thinking for long. The idiom always uses off.
Question 18
The dentist is checking your X-rays. _____ the meantime, I'll floss your teeth.
In the meantime is a fixed phrase. It means 'while we wait for something else to happen': the dentist checks the X-rays, and in the meantime the hygienist flosses your teeth. Not during, because we don't say during the meantime; the phrase always uses in.
Question 19
My stomach is _____ me. It must have been that spicy Thai food!
My stomach is killing me is an informal way to say it hurts a lot. Not aching, because ache does not take an object: we say My stomach is aching, not aching me.
Question 20
My knee has been _____ me trouble all week.
The collocation is give someone trouble, meaning to cause someone problems or pain. My knee has been giving me trouble means it has been hurting. We don't say make or do someone trouble.
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Free worksheets for class or home
LESSON 12 – Visiting the Dentist
VISITING THE DENTIST
Tina visits her dentist, Dr. Li, for a checkup. After taking X-rays, Dr. Li tells Tina she ‘II need to replace a.filling.
Dr. Li: Have your teeth been giving you any trouble since your last checkup?
Tina: The back molar on the lower left has been killing me!
Dr. Li: Let’s see here. It looks like the filling is loose.
Tina: Isn’t that the same one you replaced last year?
Dr. Li: I’ll need to check. I can’t remember off the top of my head.
Tina: Also, one of my top right teeth is a little sensitive.
Dr. Li: Which one?
Tina: This one.
Dr. Li: Okay, I’ll take a look. It looks a little discolored. We’ll get a set of X-rays today to get to the bottom of it.
Tina: X-rays? Will that be an out-of-pocket expense?
Dr. Li: No, you’re due for a set. It’ll be covered by your insurance.
(Dr. Li takes the X-rays.)
Dr. Li: (looking at X-rays): Let me give these a once over … It looks like we can hold off on that top tooth.
Tina: It does hurt, but maybe it’s just a figment of my imagination!
Dr. Li: Call us if it keeps acting up. In the meantime, we’ll need to replace that filling. Please make an appointment for that.
Language Lens: One/Ones
“One” and “ones” can be used to substitute for a noun that was just mentioned.
Look at this example from the dialogue:
Dr. Li: It looks like the filling is loose.
Tina: Isn’t that the same one you replaced last year?
Tina says “one” rather than repeating the noun (filling). She could have also said: “Isn’t that the same filling you replaced last year?”
Other examples with “one”:
◼ “Do you like the red or the blue jacket?” – “I like the red one.”
◼ “I don’t have a tie to wear to dinner.” – “Let me lend you one.”
◼ “Which ring do you like?” – “I like the one on the top shelf.”
◼ “I’d like a chocolate chip cookie.” – “We have two different kinds, one with nuts and the other without nuts. Which one do you want?”
When referring to a plural noun, use “ones.”
Examples:
◼ “Those pastries look delicious!” – “Which ones?”
◼ “Please water the plants.” – “Which ones?” – “The ones in the kitchen.”
Look at another example from the dialogue:
Tina: Also, one of my top right teeth is a little sensitive.
Dr. Li: Which one?
You may wonder why the dentist doesn’t say, “Which ones?'” since “teeth” are mentioned. In this case, however, we know Tina is talking about one of her teeth.
IDIOMS
- (to) act up
→ to start hurting
Example: Rick had to stop running because his knees were acting up.
- checkup
→ a medical examination (usually given on a regular schedule)
Example: Jennifer needs to call her doctor and schedule her annual checkup.
- covered by
→ paid for by; reimbursable as part of an insurance plan
Example: Lisa’s stay at the hospital cost $16,000. Fortunately, all of that will be covered by insurance.
- due for
→ ready to have; time for something to happen
Example: “I haven’t been to the eye doctor in years.” -“You must be due for an exam.”
- figment of one’s imagination
→ something that seems real but is not; something made up or imagined
Example: Was it just a figment of my imagination, or did our boss say he would be closing the office early tomorrow?
- (to) get to the bottom of something
→ to find the source of a problem or issue
Example: My newspaper disappears from my office every day. I’ve got to get to the bottom of it.
- (to) give something a once over
→ to look at something, often quickly
Example: If you have a few minutes, could you please give my essay a once over?
- (to) give someone trouble
→ to hurt someone; to bother
Example: Ever since the car accident, Nancy’s neck has been giving her trouble.
- (to) hold off
→ to wait to do something; to delay
Example: We’d like to buy a new car, but we ‘re going to hold off until the new models are released.
- in the meantime
→ until something else happens; while something else is happening
Example: The aspirin will make your headache go away in about half an hour. In the meantime, take a hot shower.
- killing someone
→ giving someone a lot of pain; hurting badly
Example: Mary’s stomach was killing her, so she left work early.
- (to) make an appointment
→ to schedule a meeting with someone, such as a doctor, lawyer, or other specialist
Example: Our dog Bailey is not eating. I need to make an appointment with the veterinarian.
- off the top of my head
→ from memory; without checking notes
Example: “Do you know Beth’s email address?” -“Not off the top of my head. I’ll need to look it up.”
- out-of-pocket expense
→ an expense that insurance does not pay for
Example: The dentist offers a treatment to make your teeth whiter, but it’s an out-of-pocket expense.