SINGULAR FORMS OF THE OTHER: ANOTHER vs THE OTHER
One lesson that is also still confusing for Indonesians who are studying English is the use, another, the other (with 's' or without 's'), and other (with 's' or without 's'). I often give tests about the differences in the above words in multiple choice tests, but still many are confused. Ok, it doesn't need to be long, let's start the discussion one by one.
Another
- Another as adjective is always followed by singular nouns, never by plural nouns. Mistakes that I often encounter are many who still use the word: another people. This is not allowed because 'people' are plural.
- Another as a stand-alone pronoun. If translated means 'the other'. Another as pronoun is used to avoid repeating unnecessary nouns.
- Another addition is usually used to ask again or to add more time. Well, another for additional can be followed by the number, (another five years = five more years).
- Another is nonspecific or arbitrary, meaning many options / choices / alternatives even though we still have to remember that the choice we choose remains one.
* Examples of other uses:
- This door is broken. Use another door.
Use any other door, many door choices. Of course what we need is only one door to enter or exit.
- She was everything for me. It would be difficult for me to find another like her.
‘Another‘ in the example above is not followed by noun but of course we understand what is meant is another girl or another girl just as a substitute for his lover or wife.
- This cake is delicious. Can I have another slice please?
The sentence above is often used as a request to request additional or request again. Examples above are many pieces of cake and the person asks for another piece.
The other (without 's')
- The other can be followed by singular nouns or plural nouns, but I will focus on singular or single use first.
- The other as pronouns stand alone.
- The other refers to objects / people, etc ... the remaining one is one.
- The other is specific, meaning it is clear what we mean. If the object or person is two, then maka the other ‘means lagi the other’, but if more than two, ‘the other’ means the last or remaining.
* Examples of using the other (without 's')
- This door is broken. Use the other door.
There are only two sentences above the door. So if one is damaged then there is only another door left.
- She has two cats. One is under the table. Where is the other?
The word "the other" above is pronoun. We understand the meaning is ‘the other paint’, the other cat.
- The bank is on the other side of the street.
Every street has only two sides, this side and the other side.
Others
- Other (without ‘s') as adjectives can be followed by plural nouns or uncountable nouns.
- Others (with ‘s') as pronouns stand alone and can NOT be followed by nouns because they are plural.
- Others are nonspecific, meaning arbitrary (almost the same as another, the difference is another followed by singular nouns)
- Other (with 's' or without 's') can be preceded by words, some, any, each, no, etc ...
* Examples of the use of others (for plural)
- She is so selfish. She doesn't care about other people / others.
He doesn't care about others or others.
- This is not the only answer of the questions. There are other answers / others.
This is not the only answer. There are other answers.
The others
- The other (without ‘s') can be followed by singular nouns or plural nouns.
- The others (with 's') as pronouns cannot be followed by nouns.
- The other (with or without ‘s') is specific, meaning that it refers to objects / people, etc. that are left.
* Examples of using the others (for plural)
- There were three books on my table. One is here. Where are the other books / the others?
There are three books, meaning the rest have two books, we use other the other books ‘or‘ the others'.
- I wanted to leave but the other people wanted to stay longer.
I want to leave, but others or other people (those people) want to stay longer. So obviously those people are specific or certain.
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