Other or another? Do you know how to use these words? Check out our tips to help you use these words with confidence!
✅ Other (as a determiner)
We can use it with the meaning of additional and we use it with uncountable nouns and with plural nouns:
Examples:
- Some other time we will visit your new house. (time as a uncountable noun)
- I loved this dress! Do you have it in other sizes? (sizes = plural noun)
➡ As a determiner, we don’t use the plural form ‘others’.
- I went to the lecture room and the others students went to the classroom. - INCORRECT ❌
- I went to the lecture room and the other students went to the classroom. - CORRECT ✔
✅ Other (as a pronoun)
As a pronoun we also can use the plural 'others'.
Examples:
- Victoria and other children were playing there.
- I will send you some material today and I will give others next week.
✅ But if we use other before a singular countable noun, another determiner must be used before it.
Examples:
- I don't like checkered prints. I will choose the other print.
- Anne is at work and my other sister is at home.
When we use the indefinite article an before other, we write it as one word: another. Another means ‘one more’ or ‘an additional or extra’, or ‘an alternative or different’.
✅ Another (as a determiner)
We use it with singular nouns.
Examples:
- Would you like another piece of cake?
- There is another market at the end of the avenue.
✅ Another (as a pronoun)
Ex: The rules are examined by one committee, then passed on to another.
Common mistake:
- I already had my ice cream, I want other one. - INCORRECT ❌
- I already had my ice cream, I want another one. - CORRECT ✔
Let’s practice! Write in the comments section sentences with ‘other’ and ‘another’
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