GV

Reciprocal Pronouns

Using 'each other' and 'one another' for mutual actions

intermediate

When to Use Reciprocal Pronouns

  • •Mutual actions between two people: They love each other.
  • •Mutual actions among groups: The team members help one another.
  • •Exchanged actions: We email each other every week.
  • •Shared feelings: They respect one another.
  • •Possessive form: They borrowed each other's books.

How to Form Reciprocal Pronouns

Affirmative (+)

Subject + verb + each other / one another

Negative (-)

Subject + don't/doesn't + verb + each other

Question (?)

Do they help each other?

💡 Traditionally, 'each other' = two people, 'one another' = more than two. In modern English, they're often interchangeable.

Examples of Reciprocal Pronouns

✓The two sisters help each other.

✗The two sisters help themselves.

Reciprocal (mutual action) needs 'each other', not reflexive 'themselves'.

✓They looked at each other and smiled.

✗They looked at them and smiled.

Use 'each other' for mutual action, not object pronoun.

✓We read each other's essays.

✗We read each others essays.

Possessive form: each other's (with apostrophe).

Common Mistakes with Reciprocal Pronouns

💡 Practice Tips for Reciprocal Pronouns

  • • Each other = two people (traditional); one another = 3+ (traditional)
  • • Modern usage: both are interchangeable
  • • Possessive: each other's / one another's
  • • Different from reflexive: themselves = self-action; each other = mutual
  • • Common verbs: love, help, know, see, meet, email each other
Quick Quiz
  1. 1.The two friends help   with their homework every evening.
  2. Question 2: We borrow blank books all the time — we share a small library. (each)
    2.We borrow books all the time — we share a small library. (each)
  3. Question 3: The team members emailed blank all weekend to plan the project. (one)
    3.The team members emailed all weekend to plan the project. (one)
  4. 4.They looked at   and burst out laughing.
  5. Question 5: After the argument, the brothers refused to speak to blank ___ for a week.
    5.After the argument, the brothers refused to speak to ___ for a week.
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