diNa mUtiasaRi's bLog

the use of the word other is often a cause of confusion for foreign students.
With Count Nouns With Non-Count Nouns
An + other + singular noun (one more)
Another pencil – one more pencil
The other + singular noun (last of the set)
The other pencil – the last pencil present
Other + plural noun (more of the set)
Other pencils – some more pencils
The other + plural noun (the rest of the set)
The other pencils – all remaining pencils. None

None

Other + non-count nouns (more of the set)
Other water – some more water
The other + non-count noun (all the rest)
The other water – the remaining water


Note : Another and other are nonspecific while the other is specific. If the subject is understood, one can omit the noun and keep the determiner and other so that other functions as pronoun. If it is a plural count noun that is omitted, other becomes others. The word other can NEVER be plural if it is followed by a noun.
Another is different from the other:
another refers indefinitely to any further member of a series of indeterminate extent.
the other points to the remaining determinate member of a known series of two or more.
Examples :
• I don’t want this book. Please give me another
(Another = any other book-not specific)
• I don’t want this book. Please give me the other.
(the other = the other book-specific)
• This chemical is Poisonous. Others are poisonous too.
(other = other chemicals-not specific)
• I don’t want these books. Please give me the others.
(the others = the other books-specific)
Another / The other
A student page by Yudai Hoshiai
adjective Pronoun
singular I have three apples.

I ate one apple.

I ate another apple.

Then I ate the other apple.

I found three bugs.

I killed one bug.

I killed another.

Then I killed the other.


plural I saw some turtles walking

and I saw some other turtles flying.

I saw some monkeys eating bananas

and I saw some others eating grapes.


Here are five cars. Two are mine, but the other cars are my father's.

mine
my father's
Here are six cans of cola. One is mine, but the others are my sister's.

mine
my sister's

Exercises : Other
1. This pen isn’t working. Please give me__ .(singular)
Answer : another
2. If you’re still thirsty. I’ll make pot of coffe.
Answer : the other
3. This dictionary has a page missing. Please give me___.(the last one)
Answer : the other one’s
4. He does not need those books. He needs .(all the remaining)
Answer : the others one’s
5. There are thirty people in the room. Twenty are from Latin America and are from countries.
Answer : the other, other
6. Six People were in the store. Two were buying meat.___was looking at magazines. (notice the verbs)
Answer : the other
7. This glass of milk is sour. glass of milk is sour too.
Answer : another
8. The army was practicing its drills. One group was doing artillery practice. was marching; was at attention and was practicing combat tactics.
Answer : other, another, the other
9. There are seven students from Japan. are from Iran, and are from places.
Answer : other, the other, other
10. We looked at four cars today. The first two were far too expensive, but_ ones were reasonably priced.
Answer : the other