Practice
Reciprocal pronouns: rules and examples
If Ana calls Ben and Ben calls Ana, they call each other. The action goes both ways.
Use each other and one another when two or more people do the same action to the others in the group.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
each other /iːtʃ ˈʌð.ɚ/
The short answer
Use each other or one another for a mutual action. They usually mean the same thing in modern English. Do not use them when only one person does the action.
The two neighbors helped each other after the storm.
Why it works: Both neighbors gave help and received help, so the action is mutual.
5 more examples
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The two colleagues gave each other useful feedback after the meeting.
Both colleagues gave feedback to the other person.
Not this:The manager
gave the two colleagues useful feedbackafter the meeting. What changes: The manager gives the feedback, so this action is not reciprocal. -
The children recognized one another from last year's class.
The children recognized the other children in the group.
Not this:The teacher
recognized the childrenfrom last year's class. What changes: Only the teacher does the recognizing in this sentence. -
The teammates listened to each other before choosing a plan.
Every teammate listened to the others.
Not this:The coach
listened to the teammatesbefore choosing a plan. What changes: The coach is the only listener, so each other does not fit. -
The partners checked each other's calculations twice.
The possessive form shows that each partner checked the other partner's calculations.
Not this:The accountant checked
the partners' calculationstwice. What changes: The accountant checks work that belongs to the partners. The partners do not check one another's work. -
After the argument, the friends apologized to one another.
Each friend apologized to the other friend or friends.
Not this:After the argument, Sam
apologized to the friends. What changes: Sam performs the action alone, so the relationship is not mutual.
Read the full guide
First, ask whether the action moves in both directions. If two colleagues respect one another, each colleague respects the other. If only one colleague respects the other, use an ordinary object pronoun instead.
Find the shared action
Use a reciprocal pronoun when the members of a group do the same action to the others. The sentence needs a shared relationship, not simply two people in the same situation.
The sisters call each other every weekend.
Lina calls her sister every weekend. This describes an action in one direction.
If both sisters make the calls, which phrase fits?
Use each other or one another.
Choose each other or one another
In current English, each other and one another usually have the same meaning. You can use either form with two people or with a larger group. Keep one choice within a short piece of writing if you want the wording to sound consistent.
The three researchers challenged one another's ideas respectfully.
The three researchers challenged each other's ideas respectfully. This is also natural.
Must one another be used only for three or more people?
No. Modern English commonly uses both expressions for two or more people.
Use the possessive form before a noun
Add an apostrophe and s when the reciprocal pronoun shows possession. The noun comes after it. This pattern is useful when group members own, write, check, or know something connected with the others.
The students reviewed each other's drafts before class.
The students reviewed the drafts before class. This does not say whose drafts they were.
Which form comes before drafts: each other or each other's?
Use each other's because the phrase shows whose drafts they reviewed.
Do not force a mutual meaning
Do not use each other when one person does something to another person without the action returning. Name the person who receives the action instead.
Nora thanked Ahmed for the detailed instructions.
Nora and Ahmed thanked each other for detailed instructions. This means that both people gave thanks.
Does each other fit when only Nora gives thanks?
No. Use an ordinary object such as Ahmed when the action has one direction.
Check the direction before you write
Read the sentence as two smaller actions. If both versions are true, a reciprocal pronoun probably works. If only one version is true, choose a name, object pronoun, or plural noun instead.
The neighbors warned each other about the road closure.
The police warned the neighbors about the road closure. The warning moves from one group to another.
Can both neighbors be people who warn and people who receive a warning?
Yes. In that case, each other is a good choice.
Before you go
Remember this
Use each other or one another when people act toward the others in the same group. Use each other's or one another's before a noun when you mean something that belongs to the others.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "Reciprocal pronouns: rules and examples"
What are reciprocal pronouns?
Reciprocal pronouns show an action or feeling shared by members of the same group. English mainly uses each other and one another. In a sentence such as The colleagues support each other, every colleague supports the others.
The two colleagues gave each other useful feedback after the meeting.
What is the difference between each other and one another?
In modern English, each other and one another usually mean the same thing. You can use either for two people or for a larger group. Some older style rules make a distinction by number, but ordinary current usage does not require it.
The manager gave the two colleagues useful feedback after the meeting.
How do I use each other's in a sentence?
Use each other's before a noun when you mean something connected with the other people in the group. For example, The partners checked each other's schedules. The apostrophe and s show possession, so do not write each others schedules.
The children recognized one another from last year's class.
Can I use each other for one-way actions?
No. Each other needs a mutual relationship. If Lee invited Morgan but Morgan did not invite Lee, write Lee invited Morgan. Use each other only when both people do the action to the other.
The teacher recognized the children from last year's class.
Can reciprocal pronouns refer to things?
Yes, when the meaning is a mutual relationship between things. For example, The two systems communicate with each other. This use is common when objects, groups, or ideas affect or connect with the others in the set.
The teammates listened to each other before choosing a plan.