Question

Choose the grammatically correct sentence from the following:

• A. Cannot one do what one likes with one’s own?
• B. Cannot one do that one likes to do with his own?
• C. Cannot one do that one likes with his own?
• D. Cannot one do what he likes with his own?

Hint:

When using “one” as a pronoun, keep pronoun references consistent — use “one’s” for possession, not “his” or “her.”

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

This is a rhetorical question about personal freedom over one’s possessions.
The sentence must maintain pronoun consistency. The pronoun “one” should be followed consistently by “one’s” for possession, not by “his.”
Option (A) is correct because it keeps “one” and “one’s” consistent and uses “what one likes” which is grammatically sound.
Option (B) uses “that one likes to do,” which is unnecessarily wordy and slightly awkward; it also shifts to “his own” instead of “one’s own.”
Option (C) uses “that one likes” but again switches to “his own,” breaking pronoun consistency.
Option (D) starts with “one” but changes to “he likes” — a pronoun shift that makes the sentence grammatically inconsistent.
Thus, (A) is the only option that is both grammatically correct and stylistically consistent.