Another vs Other vs Others — Choosing the Right Form
Practice discriminating another (one more, open set), other (adjective before a plural noun), others (an unspecified group), and the others (a specific remaining group), including the fixed expression 'the other day'.
-
Some people like coffee; ___ people prefer tea.
Show answer
other
'Other' + a plural noun — 'other people'.
-
Some of the guests danced; ___ just sat and talked.
Show answer
others
'Others' is a plural pronoun meaning 'other people'.
-
I've finished this book. I think I'll start ___ tomorrow.
Show answer
another
'Another' = one more book, with no fixed set of two.
-
Some students study hard; ___ don't study at all.
Show answer
others
'Others' means 'some other students' — not a fixed group.
-
I enjoy tennis, and I play several ___ sports too.
Show answer
other
'Other' + a plural noun — 'other sports'.
-
Some people agreed with the plan, but ___ were strongly against it.
Show answer
others
'Others' means 'some other people' — an unspecified group.
-
I bumped into your brother in town ___ day.
Show answer
the other
'The other day' is a fixed expression meaning 'recently'.
-
Choosing new curtains
A: We need new curtains for the living room. Do you like these green {1}?
B: Not bad, but the patterned {2} over there look much nicer.
A: True. In this shop, some of the curtains are plain and {3} are patterned.
B: I definitely prefer patterned. Look — these cost £40, but {4}, the long velvet curtains, are £55.
A: That's a big difference. The cheaper {5} are good enough for me.
B: Agreed. By the way, the bedroom curtains are old too — the {6} in there have completely faded.
A: Then let's buy new {7} for the bedroom as well.Show answer
1. ones — 'Ones' replaces the plural noun 'curtains' — 'these green ones'.
2. ones — 'The patterned ones' replaces 'curtains'.
3. others — 'Others' = some other curtains — an unspecified group.
4. the others — 'The others' = the other specific set of curtains.
5. ones — 'The cheaper ones' replaces 'curtains'.
6. ones — 'The ones in there' replaces 'curtains'.
7. ones — 'New ones' replaces 'curtains'.
Another vs Other vs Others: A Discrimination Guide
Another, other, and others look related but occupy three different grammatical slots. Another is a pronoun/determiner meaning 'one more' from an open, unlimited supply — it is always singular and always one word. Other is an adjective and must be followed by a plural noun: 'other sports', 'other people'. Others is a pronoun that stands alone, replacing 'other + plural noun', and refers to an unspecified part of a group: 'some like tea; others prefer coffee'. A fourth form, the others, adds the definite article to point to a specific, already-identified remaining group rather than a general one. Choosing correctly means asking two questions in sequence: is a noun following directly (choose 'other'), and if not, is the group general or specific (choose 'others' or 'the others')? 'Another' only enters the picture when the meaning is 'one more', not 'the remaining ones'.
Another — One More, No Fixed Set
'Another' is used when there is no limit on how many more items are available — the exact opposite of a closed, counted set.
Other — Adjective Before a Plural Noun
'Other' behaves like an ordinary adjective: it sits directly in front of the plural noun it describes and never stands alone.
I enjoy tennis, and I play several other sports too.
Others and The Others — General vs Specific Group
'Others' replaces 'other + noun' and refers to some unspecified members of a larger group. 'The others' adds 'the' to point to a specific, already-known remaining set.
Some students study hard; others don't study at all.
These cost £40, but the others, the long velvet curtains, are £55. (specific, already-identified set)
The Other Day — A Fixed Expression
'The other day' is an idiom meaning 'recently' or 'a few days ago' — it does not follow the usual 'the other' rule for pairs.
Common Mistakes
✗ I play several another sports too. → ✓ I play several other sports too. ('other' + plural noun)
✗ Some students study hard; the others don't study at all. → ✓ others don't study at all. (unspecified group — no 'the')
✗ Do you like these green other? → ✓ these green ones. ('ones' replaces the noun, not 'other')
✗ I bumped into your brother in town another day. → ✓ … the other day. (fixed expression)
Last updated: · Satori Editorial