Diana Szewczyk

Hello students,

Today, you can practise the difference between another, other and others. The rule is very simple:

another + singular countable noun / pronoun
other + plural countable or uncountable noun / pronoun
others = a pronoun to replace other + plural noun (it is not followed by a noun!)

 Let's have a look at simple examples:

• I need another book. (book is singular so we use another)
• I need other books. (books is plural so we use other)
• I need others. (refers to other books)

Let's review what are countable and uncountable nouns. 

Countable nouns are those that refer to something that can be counted. They have both singular and plural forms e.g. dog/dogs, woman/women, country/countries. In the singular, they can be preceded by a or an. 

A smaller number of nouns do not typically refer to things that can be counted and so they do not regularly have a plural form e.g. rain, flour, earth, wine or wood. Many abstract nouns are typically uncountable such as happiness, truth, darkness, humour. 

Practise:

1. I want another / other / others question.

2. Would you like another / other / others glass of water?

3. I think we should make another / other / others plans just in case.

4. We need some tables, I will take these ones and you can take the another /  other / others. 

5. Do you have any another / other / others courses available?

6. There's no another / other / others way to do it. 

7. Some people like to rest in their free time. Another / other / others like to travel. 

8. This cake is delicious! Can I have another / other / others slice, please?

9. Where are the another / other / others boys?

10. The supermarket is on the another / other / others side of the street.

Answer key: 

1. another, 2. another, 3. other, 4. others, 5. other, 6. other, 7. others, 8. another, 9. other, 10. other