Question If you need a dictionary, I'll lend you [this / this one / one] etc...

hirashin

Sempai

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8 Apr 2004

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• 27 Mar 2021

• #1

Dear native English speakers,
Which sentence sounds right?
A. If you need a dictionary, I'll lend you this.
B. If you need a dictionary, I'll lend you this one.
C. If you need a dictionary, I'll lend you one.
D. If you need a dictionary, you can use this.
E. If you need a dictionary, you can use this one.
F. If you need a dictionary, you can use one.

Hirashin

 

M

Michael2

後輩

4 Jan 2018

297

45

• 28 Mar 2021

• #2

Certainly not F!
A and D sound odd because it sounds to me as if it isn't a dictionary you are showing them.

 

hirashin

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8 Apr 2004

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• 28 Mar 2021

• Thread starter
• #3

Thanks for the help, Michael2.

 

M

Michael2

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4 Jan 2018

297

45

• 28 Mar 2021

• #4

Sorry, I'm not sure why I said not F. The meaning is just different, that's all. It would be giving permission to use one though, as opposed to passing a dictionary to someone, which the others sound like.

 

mdchachi

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Twenty-year veteran

6 Mar 2003

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9,449

• 28 Mar 2021

• #5

They are all ok. But the meaning of (F) is not aligned with the others as Michael2 said. I also agree that (A) and (D) implies that you are giving them a substitute. Like "If you need a calculator, you can use this [abacus]." So it sounds odd because I can't think of any good substitutes for dictionaries.

 

hirashin

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8 Apr 2004

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• 28 Mar 2021

• Thread starter
• #6

Thank you for the help, mdchachi.