I need a pen. Do you have one?

Notice

  • I need a pen. Do you have one?
  • He promised to help, and he did so immediately.
  • She ordered the salad, and I did the same.
  • If you want to leave early, feel free to do so.

Rule

Substitution replaces a noun or verb phrase with a placeholder word instead of omitting it entirely or repeating it. One/ones substitutes for a countable noun; do so substitutes formally for a repeated action; the same substitutes for an identical action or choice.

Practice

  1. Substitute with ‘one’: ‘I lost my umbrella, so I bought a new umbrella.’
    Answer: I lost my umbrella, so I bought a new one.
  2. Substitute formally with ‘do so’: ‘He said he would resign, and he resigned the next day.’
    Answer: He said he would resign, and he did so the next day.
  3. Substitute with ‘the same’: ‘She chose the vegetarian option, and he chose the vegetarian option too.’
    Answer: She chose the vegetarian option, and he did the same.
  4. When is ‘do so’ more appropriate than ‘do it’?
    Answer: In more formal written or spoken register.

Connect

Practise substitution patterns for fluent, economical English.

Try Grammar Quiz →

CEFR: Writing — write clear, well-structured text avoiding unnecessary repetition.

Azizul Hakim
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