What is the difference between OTHER, THE OTHER and ANOTHER

Question

Hi all,I got used to use the above words in popular conversations but i dont know how to distinguish them particularly. Please let me know when we should use Other, the other and another.it sounds very complicate!Thks n best regards

Prajwalkr · Accepted Answer

Hi
From the dictionary:

Another:
adjective

1. being one more or more of the same; further; additional: another piece of cake.

2. different; distinct; of a different period, place, or kind: at another time; another man.

3. very similar to; of the same kind or category as: What we need today is another Thomas Jefferson.

pronoun

4. one more; an additional one: That first hot dog tasted so good I'd like another.

5. a different one; something different: going from one house to another.

6. one like the first: one copy for her and another for him.

7. a person other than oneself or the one specified: He told her he loved another.

determiner
1.	a.one more; an added: another chance
	b. ( as pronoun ): help yourself to another
2.	a. a different; alternative: another era from ours
	b. ( as pronoun ): to try one path, then another
3.	a. a different example of the same sort: another Beethoven
	b. ( as pronoun ): we got rid of one loafer, but I think this new man's another
4.	another place the other House of Parliament (used in the House of Commons to refer to the House of Lords and vice versa)

other:

adjective
1. additional or further: he and one other person.

2. different or distinct from the one mentioned or implied: in some other city; Some other design may be better.

3. different in nature or kind: I would not have him other than he is.

4. being the remaining one of two or more: the other hand.

5. (used with plural nouns) being the remaining ones of a number: the other men; some other countries.

the other:

Sometimes, a noun:

the other one: Each praises the other.

Mostly used to talk about one specific thing:

Take the other car, this one is damaged.

Prajwal

Ivanhr · Answer

"other" is used with a plural noun while "others" doesn't have an accompanying noun.
Besides basketball, he likes other sports too.
Some sports are more fun to watch than others. ("others" means just some, unspecified other sports)

"the other" can be followed by either a singular or plural noun while "the others" doesn't have an accompanying noun.
There were five teams at the tournement. We were the only team from Asia and the others were from Europe. ("the others" means "all the four remaining teams")
We can see the other side of the river from here. (when there are only two people or things, "the other" is used to refer to the one that hasn't already been mentioned)
Have you told the others yet? ("the others" refers to a specific group of people known to the listener)

"another" is used with singular nouns instead of other (an other is essentially another)
Can I have another beer, please?

CalifJim · Answer

Daisy NguyenHi all,I got used to use the above words in popular conversations but i dont know how to distinguish them particularly. Please let me know when we should use Other, the other and another.it sounds very complicate!Thks n best regards

It's the same as for the usage of 'a' and 'the'.

Pronouns.
Definite: the other, the others
Indefinite: another, others

Adjectives.
Definite: the other boy, the other boys
Indefinite: another boy, other boys

Also, with the pronoun "one".
Definite: the other one, the other ones
Indefinite: another one, others (Here we usually say 'others' instead of 'other ones'.)

CJ

What is the difference between OTHER, THE OTHER and ANOTHER

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