Ones

[Depilego]

Why do people use a number to describe an object?

An example using teeth:

"My dentist only charged me $500 to have two impacted ones removed."

Why can't they just say:

"My dentist only charged me $500 to have two impacted teeth removed."

In English people do that all the time. I can't go one day without seeing someone use a number to describe an object. To me it sounds like:

"My dentist only charged me $500 to have two impacted twos removed."

:thinking:

"My dentist only charged me $500 to have two impacted threes removed."

[JPablo]

Hi, Depilego!

In this case, it is a PRONOUN, not a "number".

PRONOUN

Oxford gives you examples:

https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/one

one
1 Referring to a person or thing previously mentioned or easily identified:
‘her mood changed from one of moroseness to one of joy’
‘her best apron, the white one’
‘do you want one?’

(That does not mean "Do you want 1?" but "do you want the one thing mentioned just before...")

Does that answer your question?

[Depilego]

OK thanks for the help.

[JPablo]

You're welcome! :-)