Another v other v others (Part 2)

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It's been ages since I posted Part 1 about another. Here in Part 2 we will focus on other and others.

While another is used with singular countable nouns, other goes before plural countable nouns and uncountable nouns.
  • Some people drive while other people (/others) prefer to cycle.
  • I didn't help her because I had other more important things to do.
  • Have you got any other trainers (/any others) or are these your only ones?
  • He's not just a chemistry teacher. He teaches other sciences too.
  • Don't you like any other music apart from rock?

When followed by a noun, other does not form a plural.
  • We have others other colours if you'd like to see them.
  • He has others other cousins who live in Australia.

We can use other before singular nouns (when we specify something) but we need to use another determiner before it.
  • I like this restaurant but I prefer the other one.
  • MarĂ­a lives in Madrid but his other sister has been living in London for ten years.
  • There's one other thing I want to mention.
  • No other team has won 5 finals.

 The other with a plural noun means the remaining people or things in a group or set:
  • I recognise James and Caron but who are the other people in the photo?
  • Where are the other bottles of wine that we bought? I can only find this one.

The other with a singular noun means the second of two things or people:
  • This neighbourhood is too noisy. I preferred living in the other flat.
  • I was on the other side of the street. I shouted but you didn't hear me.

We can use the other as a pronoun to refer back to sth that has been mentioned in the sentence:
  • He has two cars; one is an Audi and the other is a Mini.
  • She had a cigarette in one hand and a glass of champagne in the other.


Others is a pronoun that refers to more than one person or thing; it replaces "other ones" or "other + plural noun":
  • Some politicans think taxes should be cut. Others (/Other politicians) think they should be raised. I don't know who to believe.
  • It's a good brand but there are others (other brands) that are cheaper and equally good.

The others refers to specific people or things:
  • I only read one book during the summer holidays. I didn't have time to read the others (/the other books) that I took with me.
  • Are the others going to the conference as well? Or is it just you and me? (referring to people you know)

Maybe I have overloaded you with examples. Try the exercise below.

Correct the sentences that have a mistake:
  1. Can I have other slice of cake? It's delicious.
  2. He has others meetings later today.
  3. I don't have another umbrella. Ask Colin - he might have one.
  4. The film on other channel is much better. Turn it over.
  5. Some people say they like my new hairstyle but the other people say it doesn't suit me.
  6. What about your other brother? What does he do?
  7. I have other three emails to write.
  8. Let's run around the park another time. I still have loads of energy.
  9. On one side of the river is the London Eye and Westminster is on the other.
  10. I'm not going to give him another chances. He has had enough.
  11. Can another person do the cooking for a change? It's always me.
  12. There were twelve students in the class. Ten passed, the others just failed.

Comments

Hi! It's Ana
I have found the post very interesting because I often confuse these words.


1. Can I have ANOTHER slice of cake? It's delicious.
2. He has OTHER meetings later today.
3. I don't have another umbrella. Ask Colin - he might have one. CORRECT
4. The film on THE OTHER channel is much better. Turn it over.
5. Some people say they like my new hairstyle but OTHER people say it doesn't suit me.
6. What about your other brother? What does he do? CORRECT
7. I have ANOTHER three emails to write.
8. Let's run around the park ONE MORE TIME. I still have loads of energy.
9. On one side of the river is the London Eye and Westminster is on the other. CORRECT
10.I'm not going to give him OTHER chances. He has had enough.
11.Can another person do the cooking for a change? It's always me. CORRECT
12.There were twelve students in the class. Ten passed, the others just failed. CORRECT
Graham said…
Hi Ana,

Thanks for doing the exercise. I hate seeing posts go unanswered. :-)


5. Some people say they like my new hairstyle but OTHER people / others say it doesn't suit me.

10.I'm not going to give him any more chances. He has had enough

11.Can someone else do the cooking for a change? It's always me.


Well done!

Montse said…
Hi, Graham. I've read this post...very interesting.
I hope you feel good!!!
Graham said…
Hi Montse,

I always see mistakes with "other" and "another".

I'm fine. I can get up a bit later on Tuesdays and Thursdays now. :-)

I was saying to José that we will have to see the film about Alan Turing when it comes out.

Montse said…
Hi, Graham!!! Count on me to see that movie althoug we'll had to wait until 01/01/2015 to see it in Spain. The reviews are quite good besides I've just seen the trailer and I've liked it so much.
I'm not sure that we'll ger to take José to thw cinema...jajaja!!!

JosĂ© said…
Hello Montse,

Do you know when the dinosaurs extinguished? I watched my last movie “Jurassic park” 65 million years ago. However we can talk about English language, Scotch teacher, e. g. eating lunch in a restaurant, but in Spanish restaurant.

See you.
Montse said…
Hi, José. I'm glad to hear from you again. It'd be a good idea if we could meet for having lunch. We can ask the rest of the goup...and find a date before Christmas holidays.
Graham said…
Hi Montse and José,

I get the feeling that it'll be difficult to find a day that'll please everyone, but we should at least try.


Count on me to se that movie although we'll have to wait until...
... I've just seen the trailer and I really liked it.
I'm not sure that we will manage to get José to the cinema though.


Do you know when the dinosaurs became extinct?
However, we can talk about English, our Scottish teacher...


It'd be a good idea if we could meet to have lunch. ... before the Christmas holidays.