Another, other, the other, the others
How to choose between another, other, the other, others and the others, which of them need a noun after them, and how to say one more, a different one or the rest.
This lesson was written with the help of AI writing tools and may contain mistakes. If you spot one, please tell us.
When you use it
Another means one more of the same kind (another coffee) or a different one (this cup is dirty; can I have another?). Other means different. On its own (with no the, my, no… in front) it goes before a plural or an uncountable noun (other languages, other music). The other points to a known group: the second of two things, or the rest of the group. Others and the others stand alone, with no noun after them.
How it is formed
| Form | What comes after it | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| another | a singular countable noun, or one, or nothing | one more, or a different one | Have another biscuit. |
| another + number | a plural noun | that many more | We need another two chairs. |
| other | a plural or uncountable noun (after the, my, no… also a singular noun) | different ones, not these | She speaks other languages too. |
| the other | a singular noun, or one, or nothing | the second of two, the last one left | Where is the other key? |
| the other | a plural noun | all the rest of a group | The other guests left early. |
| others | nothing | some different people or things | Some like it; others don't. |
| the others | nothing | all the rest of a group | Anna is ready, but the others are still eating. |
Another is one word: an + other written together. Because it already contains an, you cannot put a, the or my in front of it, and it normally goes with a singular noun. The main exception is a number or few: another three weeks means three more weeks, and another few days means a few more days.
Other in front of a noun never changes. It has no -s, even when the noun is plural: other students, the other students. It can follow words like the, my, some, any and no: my other sister, no other way.
With no noun after it, the plural form takes -s: others, the others (in speech also other ones, the other ones). In the singular, other cannot stand alone: say another, another one, the other or the other one.
The changes the meaning. Others means some other people or things, not all of them: Some students walk to school; others take the bus. The others means everyone or everything that is left in a group you both know: Anna is at the door, and the others are in the car.
Learn two patterns as units. With two things, use one … the other: One bag is mine, and the other is Tom's. With a large group, use some … others: Some passengers sleep on the plane; others watch films.
Each other means that each person does the same thing to the other or the others: The two sisters phone each other every day means that each sister phones the other one. It is not the same as themselves, where each person does something to himself or herself; the lesson on reflexive pronouns compares the two.
Examples
- This cup is cracked. Could you bring me another one?
- We need another two days to finish the report.
- Tom speaks Spanish and two other languages.
- I can only find one glove. Have you seen the other one?
- Anna lives on the other side of the river.
- Only Tom came on time. The other students were twenty minutes late.
- Some of the guests danced all night; others sat in the garden and talked.
- Anna went to bed at ten, but the others stayed up until two.
- My parents have two cars. One is red, and the other is grey.
- My two cats sleep next to each other on the sofa.
Common mistakes
I'd like an other tea, please.
I'd like another tea, please.
Another is always written as one word. Ще одна and інша are separate words; English puts both meanings into the single word another. Ещё одна and другая are separate words; English puts both meanings into the single word another. German ein anderer is two words, so an other looks natural; English joins them into another.We need another chairs.
We need another chair. / We need some more chairs.
Another goes with one thing. For more than one: some more chairs (more), other chairs (different ones), or a number: another two chairs. Інший / інші is the same word with different endings; English has another for one thing and other for more. Другой / другие is the same word with different endings; English has another for one thing and other for more. Noch ein Stuhl or ein anderer Stuhl is another chair; andere Stühle is other chairs.The others students went home.
The other students went home.
Before a noun, other has no -s; only the form with no noun takes it: The others went home. Інші студенти has a plural ending, but English other before a noun never changes. Другие студенты has a plural ending, but English other before a noun never changes. Die anderen Studenten has an ending on anderen; English other stays the same before a noun.This shirt is too big. Can I try other?
This shirt is too big. Can I try another (one)? / Can I try a different one?
In the singular, other cannot stand alone as a pronoun. Можна приміряти іншу? needs no noun, but English needs another or another one. Можно примерить другую? needs no noun, but English needs another or another one. Kann ich eine andere anprobieren? matches English well: eine andere is another or another one.The flat has two bedrooms. One is big, and another is very small.
One is big, and the other is very small.
With only two, the second one is specific, so it takes the. Одна велика, а друга маленька has no article, so the the in the other is easy to forget. Одна большая, а другая маленькая has no article, so the the in the other is easy to forget. German also uses the article here, das eine … das andere, so keep the in English too.
Practice
The exercises go from easy to harder. Each answer is checked at once. If it is wrong, you get a hint and a second try.
A Choose another, other or the other.
Example: I've finished my tea. Can I have ___ cup? → another
- There are lots of pens on the desk. This one doesn't work, so I'll take gap one.
- Anna has two sisters. One lives in Spain, and gap lives in Canada.
- Anna loves learning about gap cultures, so she travels a lot.
- The bank isn't on this side of the street. It's on gap side.
- We have six flats on our list. This one is too expensive, so let's look at gap one.
- Tom has been in Rome for a week, and he's staying gap three days.
B Choose the right word. No noun comes after it.
- Five of us went to the beach. Only Tom swam; gap stayed on the sand.
- Some people love big cities. gap prefer a quiet life in the country.
- There are three books in the series. I've read the first one, but not gap.
- These little cakes are delicious. Can I have gap?
- Tom found only one sock in the drawer. He had lost gap.
C Complete the sentences with another, other, the other, others, the others or each other.
- Tom was still hungry after his sandwich, so he made one.
- Anna got full marks. All the students made at least one mistake.
- Some children are afraid of dogs, but love them.
- Tom is here, but where are ? The film starts in five minutes.
- The train is late. We'll have to wait twenty minutes.
- At the end of the match, the players of both teams shook hands with .
D Rewrite the sentences with the words in brackets. Keep the meaning.
- Tom ate one more slice of pizza. (another)
- The builders will be here for three more weeks. (another)
- Where is my second shoe? (other)
- The rest of the guests stayed until midnight. (the others)
E Put the words in order. Use all the words.
- (a question)Tap the words in the right order.
- Tap the words in the right order.
- Tap the words in the right order.
- Tap the words in the right order.
F Correct the mistakes. Change only what is wrong. Two of the sentences are already right: keep them as they are.
- Let's meet an other day, when you're less busy.
- There were no others options, so we took the bus.
- Some students live near the university, and other live far away.
- There are two roads to the village. One is short, and the other is very beautiful.
- Can I have another two minutes, please?
- This knife isn't very sharp. Do you have other?
- I have three cousins. One lives in Spain, and the other live in Italy.
- I don't like this hotel. Let's find another hotels.
G Match the beginnings and the endings.
Quick test
8 questions from this lesson in random order, one try each. Nothing is saved.