The Indefinite Pronoun “one” as a Subject

The subject of an English sentence is often expressed by the indefinite pronoun “one”. These sentences are translated into Russian by impersonal sentences:

One sees other people’s faults sooner than one’s own. – Ошибки других людей видишь скорее, чем свои.

When one doesn’t know grammar, one often makes mistakes. – Когда не знаешь грамматики, часто делаешь ошибки.

One should remember this rule. – Следует помнить это правило.

One must not do that. – Нельзя этого делать.

Note:

One says – говорят; one can – можно; one may – можно; one never knows – никогда не знаешь; one must – нужно; one need not – не надо; one must not – нельзя, не надо.

2. . Translate the following sentences into Russian.

1. One can say that there is no difference between these two sentences. 2. One must say that you are not right in this case. 3. One can get any foreign book in the reading hall of this library. 4. One cannot say that this reporter’s is elegant. 5. One could not forget this festival. 6. One does not know how to act in such circumstances. 7. One should keep fit to look attractive. 8. Duty is what one expects from others.

3. . Read the text and answer the questions:

1. What does any university need of their students?

2. Is a learning power just an inborn ability?

3. Can a teacher make all the students achieve great results in learning?

Needs of Universities

Today, the first need among universities everywhere (though it has been less talked about and perhaps less thought about in America than in Europe), is learning power, which is native ability plus the will to learn. An able person, intellectually inquiring, reflective and industrious – with learning power can make himself educated, cultivated, and wise in this era of free public libraries, museums, and archives. A great teacher can speed the process. But if learning power is not there, the greatest teaching is only of partial value. A student cannot be lifted beyond the limits of his/ her ability.

A great teacher may, and often does, inspire an individual student who has lacked the will or full opportunity to learn, and so sets his student on the road to education. But if large numbers of students arrive at the university without a solid academic foundation on which to build, the quality of university education must suffer.

4. . Answer the questions:

1. What made you choose University rather than another higher educational institution?

2. What subjects are included in the first-year curriculum at the Faculty of Philology and Journalism?

3. What subject is the most interesting; the least interesting; the one you think the most important; the one you find the most difficult?

4. Was it easy for you to get accustomed to the University system of lectures and seminars after the school system of classes and home tasks?

5. Which are more useful in your opinion – lectures or seminars?

6. Do you have to work much after your lectures and seminars are over?

5. . Read the text and translate it into Russian.