When learning a language, one may encounter many rules and exceptions, refinements and difficulties that make the process difficult. The English language has its own exceptions, for example irregular verbs - you just need to know them and how to learn them. There are words and phrases similar in meaning or pronunciation that Russian people may confuse and use incorrectly. This group of words includes another, other, others, the other and the others.
They all sound, of course, almost similar and translate as "different, different." But in English, these similar words have not exactly the same meaning and are used in different cases. And then what is the difference: other and another?
Another
Let's try to understand and understand the moments of using other and another.
Another is an adjective. In the British version it is pronounced as [əˈnʌðə], in American English - [əˈnʌðər]
To understand the meaning of the word another, you must first notice that this word has an and other in its composition. An or a is an indefinite article that is used with some unspecific words: I want to buy a car - I want to buy (some, I haven't decided which one) a car.
Another is always used only with countable nouns and only in a single singular. For all other nouns and plurals, there is other. That is, you cannot say another books (other books) or another toys (other toys) - this will be grammatically incorrect.
Another in the meaning of "other", "different"
In most cases, another is translated as “other” or “different”. Usually another is used when the speaker is referring to some vague object. In the sentence, for a clearer meaning of this word, we can substitute the phrases “some else”, “some other”. We give simple examples to make the use of the word another clear:
- I will watch this film another day. - I will watch this film on another (some other) day.
- Unfortunately, I don't really like science fiction. Could you give me another book? - Unfortunately, I do not really like science fiction. Could you bring me another (some other, but not this) book?
- I would like to try another cake in that cafe someday! - I want to try another (some other) cake in that cafe somehow.
- We should move to another city! “We should move to another (some other, but not this) city.”
Another - "another", "the same"
But another can be used in a different sense when it comes to some other, similar subject. For example, you are in a clothing store and trying on some shirt, but it turns out to be small for you. Then you ask the consultant: "Please bring me a different size." They will bring you another similar shirt, only one size larger. For such cases, the word another exists in English, which translates as "another," "the same," "similar."
Another can be used without a subsequent noun, if it is clear what is being said in the context, or together with the word one - in this case another one is translated as "another":
- This shirt is too big. Bring me another one, please. - This shirt is too big. Bring me another one, please.
- Oh, we're late! Another bus is coming in 20 minutes. - Oh, we're late! The next (one more) bus will arrive in 20 minutes.
Other
It is an adjective. In British English it is pronounced as [ˈʌðə], in American English it is [ˈʌðər]
Other, unlike the similar word another, can be used both with countable nouns and uncountable, this is the difference between another and other. It also has both plural and singular. Denotes specific objects, and something in the broad sense is another difference between other and another. For example, other people are some non-specific other people in the broad sense, the other people are a group of certain people.
Other in the meaning of "others"
Other is put in the sentence in the meaning "others" in the plural. In this case, it can also be translated as "additional". In this case, the "others" are vague, some non-specific objects or people.
I don't like that you don't care about feelings of other people. - I do not like that you do not care about the feelings of other people.
There are other people who want to get this gift. - There are other people who want to receive this gift.
I don't have any other ideas about what we're going to do with this. - I have no other ideas regarding what we are going to do with it.
The other - "rest"; the rest of something
If we are talking about a specific remainder of something, other is used with the definite article the (the difference between another and other) and is translated into Russian as "others" or "others". Here is a simple example in Russian: a friend tells you how she bought her new dress. “I bought this red dress just because everyone else was too short,” she says. In this case, we mention some specific dresses in the store and in English we use the word with the indefinite article the: the other. The difference between other and another is that another will never be defined and be used with the article the.
- Maria has bought this blue notebook, because the other ones were too pink and childish. - Maria bought this blue notebook because the rest were too pink and childish.
- You can see the other paintings of this artist here. - You can see the rest of the paintings by this artist here.
- The other people are in the garden. - The rest of the people in the garden.
There is also the use of the other without a subsequent noun, in which case the ending -s is added to the word. It is usually clear from the context what is being discussed. Redo the previous examples to make it clear:
- Maria has bought this blue notebook, because the others were too pink and childish. - Maria bought this blue notebook because the rest were too pink and childish.
- You have already seen many paintings of this artist. You can see the others here. - You have already seen many paintings by this artist. You can see the rest here.
- Some of invited people are in the living room, the others in the garden. - Some of the invited people are in the living room, others in the garden.
The other - one of a pair of specific people or objects
Other may be used to mean "one of." In this case, you need to put the definite article the in front of him, since the sentence speaks of a specific object or person from a certain amount. Moreover, it translates as “opposite”, if we speak, for example, about the sides of the road.
The other can be used without a noun after, then it will be an independent word.
- Yesterday I met two beautiful girls. One girl was sociable and laughed much, the other was really shy. - Yesterday I met two beautiful girls. One girl was sociable and laughed a lot, the other was very shy.
- The other side of the moon. - The other side of the moon.
- I have two best friends. One of them is going abroad tomorrow, the other leaved the city with his parents. - I have two best friends. One goes abroad tomorrow, the other leaves the city with his parents.
- I've lost my other glove. - I lost another (one of a pair) glove.
- I have just seen Alice on the other side of the street. “I just saw Alice on the other side of the road.”
What is the difference between other and others?
Both words are pronouns and are translated exactly the same: "others" or "others." But how to understand when it is necessary to put the ending -s to other, and when not? In fact, the difference is huge, and if you look, it becomes quite clear.
When other is followed by a word, the ending -s is not required. If after there is no word, you need to add the ending -s. Compare pairs of similar sentences:
- Clay has other hobbies. “Clay has other hobbies.”
- You have your hobbies, and Clay has others. “You have some hobbies, and Clay has others.”
- Where are the other students? - Where are the other students?
- Where are the others? - Where are the others?
Persistent expressions containing other
In English, as in any other language, there are stable expressions and idioms, and it is best to just learn them. The words another and other also have their own phrases. We advise you to view and remember them:
- On the one hand; on the other hand - on the one hand; on the other hand. In general, these are very useful expressions; they are useful in many essays on the topic of reasoning, in written and colloquial speech. Many sentences can start with these introductory words, so you should definitely remember them. On the other hand, It needs a lot of money. - On the other hand, it requires a lot of money.
- The other day - recently, the other day. Used only in the past tense. Actually, I saw her the other day. She seemed to be very upset. “Actually, I saw her the other day.” She seemed very upset.
- The other morning / afternoon / evening - once, the other day in the morning / once in the afternoon / once in the evening. Like the previous expression, these are used only in the past tense. I walked the street and noticed Jonh the other morning. - I walked along the street and noticed John one morning.
- In other words - in other words, in other words. Our society should be more understanding to other people's choices, in other way - be tolerant. - Our society should be more understanding towards the choice of other people, in other words, be tolerant.
- Each other - each other. Very simple expression and quite often used in English. We love each other. - We love each other.
- The other way around - vice versa. She made the situation look terrible, but in fact it was the other way around. - She made the situation terrible, but in fact it was the other way around.
- Someone / something or other - somebody / something. I mean I want to focus on someone or someting other, but not me. “I mean, I want to focus on someone else, but not only on myself.”
- No one other than ... - none other than ... - Mrs Davis, no one other than you can make such a delicious cakes. “Mrs. Davis, no one except you can make such delicious cakes.”
- Otherwise - otherwise, in a different way.
Persistent expressions containing another
One another - each other. We must help one another. - We must help each other.
Not another - just not yet another ... / not another. Not another lecture about my behavior! “No more lectures on my behavior.” This is not another film about brave superheroes. - This is not another movie about brave superheroes.
One after another - one after another. Hank watches films one after another. - Hank watches movies one by one.
For one reason or another - one way or another, for one reason or another. All my attempts to learn this grammar rules were failed, for one reason or another. - All my attempts to learn these grammar rules were unsuccessful, for one reason or another.
What is the difference: each other and one another?
The two expressions are very similar, both translating as "each other." The difference between each other and one another is huge. The first is usually used when it comes to two people, and the second - about an unlimited number of people. Recall the difference between another and other.
Alice and Ben are so cute! It seems like they really love each other! “Alice and Ben are so cute!” It seems they really love each other. (Here it is a couple, two people, therefore, each other).
All the people on our planet should respect one another. - All people on our planet must respect each other. (All people are definitely not two people, but an unlimited number, therefore - one another).