Another, other and others all talk about things beyond the one you already know, but they take different grammar. Another needs a singular noun. Other needs a plural noun or an uncountable noun. Others stands alone with no noun at all.
The word another is really an + other, which explains the singular noun: another cup, another day, another idea. Other never takes -s when a noun follows. The plural -s only appears in others, which replaces the noun.
This page shows the four patterns: another, other, the other and others, plus every other day and the common mistakes. The drill has 20 sentences with a rule under every answer.
The rule
Another + singular noun
- Another means one more of the same kind: "Would you like another cup of tea?"
- Another also means a different one: "This pen is broken; give me another."
- The noun after another is always singular: another day, another question, another city.
- Another cannot take a plural noun: "another people" is wrong.
Other + plural or uncountable noun
- Other describes different things: "Other people arrived later."
- Other works with uncountable nouns: "Do you have other information?"
- Other does not take -s when a noun follows: other people, other ideas.
- With a singular countable noun, use another or the other, not other alone: "the other day", not "other day".
The other: the second or the remaining one
- The other means the second of two: "One shoe is here; where is the other shoe?"
- The other can mean the remaining one in a small set: "I will take this one; you take the other."
- The other + plural noun means the rest: "The other students went home."
- Use the other when the listener knows which one you mean.
Others and the others: pronouns
- Others replaces a plural noun: "Some people agree; others disagree."
- The others means the rest of a known group: "Two of us stayed; the others left."
- Never write others + noun: "others people" is wrong.
- The singular pronoun is another one or the other one, not other.
Every other and other fixed patterns
- Every other day means every second day: "The bus runs every other day."
- The other day means a few days ago: "I saw her the other day."
- On the other hand introduces a contrast: "It is expensive; on the other hand, it lasts longer."
- Each other means one another, and it is fixed: "They help each other."
Examples
- Would you like another biscuit?Another takes a singular noun.
- Other students joined the class later.Other takes a plural noun with no -s.
- We need other information before we decide.Other works with uncountable nouns too.
- This glove fits; where is the other glove?The other is the second of a pair.
- Some people walk to work; others take the bus.Others stands alone as a pronoun.
- Two chairs are free; the others are taken.The others means the rest of the group.
- I go swimming every other day.Every other day means every second day.
- I met him the other day at the market.The other day means recently.
- The flat is small; on the other hand, it is cheap.On the other hand introduces a contrast.
- They write to each other every month.Each other is a fixed reciprocal pronoun.
Common mistakes
- Wrong: Would you like another biscuits? Right: Would you like another biscuit?
- Another takes a singular noun.
- Wrong: Other people is another students from my class. Right: Other students from my class were there.
- Other + plural noun, and another is not used with a plural.
- Wrong: Some of us stayed home; other went out. Right: Some of us stayed home; others went out.
- The pronoun form is others, with -s. Other cannot stand alone as a plural pronoun.
- Wrong: She has others books at home. Right: She has other books at home.
- Others never comes before a noun. Use other + plural noun.
- Wrong: I need other day to finish the work. Right: I need another day to finish the work.
- A singular countable noun takes another, not other.
Practice drill
Answer all 20 questions. Each answer is marked at once, and the rule is explained under the question.
Would you like ___ cup of tea?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. another Another takes the singular noun cup.
___ students joined the class late.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. Other Other comes before a plural noun with no -s.
Some people walk; ___ take the bus.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. others Others stands alone as a plural pronoun.
This shoe fits, but where is ___ shoe?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D. the other The other is the second of a pair of shoes.
Two of us stayed; ___ left early.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. the others The others means the rest of a known group.
The bus comes every ___ day.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. other Every other day means every second day.
I need ___ ten minutes to finish.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. another Another takes the singular noun ten minutes as a single block of time.
Do you have ___ information about the course?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D. other Information is uncountable, so other is the correct word.
She has ___ books at home.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. other Other + plural noun books; others never comes before a noun.
I saw him ___ other day at the market.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. the The fixed phrase is the other day, meaning recently.
It is expensive; on the other ___ it lasts for years.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. hand On the other hand is the fixed contrast phrase.
They helped ___ other with the bags.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D. each Each other is the fixed reciprocal pattern.
I do not like this shirt. Show me ___ one, please.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. another Another one means a different single shirt.
This pen is broken. Where is ___ pen?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. the other The other pen is the second of the pair.
Some of the cakes are sweet; ___ are salty.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. others Others replaces the plural noun cakes in the second clause.
We need ___ day to decide.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D. another A singular noun takes another; other cannot stand before a singular noun.
The ___ people in the queue were patient.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. other The other + plural noun people describes the rest of the queue.
One twin is tall; ___ is short.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. the other The other is the second of the two twins.
He works every ___ week.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. other Every other week means every second week.
I have finished this report; I have ___ reports to write.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D. other Other + plural noun reports; others cannot take a noun.
Drill complete
You answered every question.
Next topic: Countable and uncountable nounsTake the level test
Questions learners ask
What is the difference between another and other?
Another means one more of the same kind and takes a singular noun: "another coffee". Other describes different things and takes a plural or uncountable noun: "other drinks", "other advice". If the noun is singular and specific, use the other: "the other coffee" means the second of two.
Can I say "other people" or is it "others people"?
"Other people" is correct, because other comes before a plural noun. "Others people" is wrong because others is already a pronoun and cannot take a noun. Use others only when it stands alone: "Some people left; others stayed."
When do I use the other and the others?
Use the other for the second of two or the remaining singular thing: "One hand is clean; the other is dirty." Use the others for the rest of a plural group: "One student passed; the others failed." The adds the idea that the listener knows exactly which ones.
More grammar topics
Countable and uncountable nouns
The two noun groups, the words that only work with each, the measures that make uncountables countable, and the nouns with two meanings.
Present perfect vs past simple
The classic contrast: finished time takes the past simple, a link to now takes the present perfect.
Irregular verbs
The three forms (go, went, gone) grouped by pattern, with the mistakes to avoid.
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