Grammar
Another and other: add or distinguish
You have finished one cup of tea, but you would like one more. You say, "Can I have another cup?" Later, you choose a different drink and say, "I will try the other drink." The words are close in meaning, but the noun after them tells you which one to choose.
Choose another or the correct form of other to refer to one additional item, a different item, different plural items, or a different amount of an uncountable noun.
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
Could I have another copy? /kʊd aɪ hæv əˈnʌðə ˈkɒpi/
The short answer
Use another before a singular countable noun when you mean one more or a different one: another chair, another idea. Use other before plural or uncountable nouns: other chairs, other information. Before a singular countable noun, put a determiner before other: the other chair or any other idea.
Could I have another copy of the form?
Why it works: Copy is a singular countable noun, and the speaker asks for one more copy.
5 more examples
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I need another pen because this one has run out of ink.
Pen is singular and countable. Another means one more pen.
Not this:I need
a other penbecause this one has run out of ink. What changes: The sentence needs another for one additional singular countable item. Do not use a before other; use another, or use a phrase such as the other pen for a particular different pen. -
We can discuss the other plan after lunch.
The speaker refers to a different known plan, probably one of two plans already mentioned.
Not this:We can discuss
another planafter lunch. What changes: Another plan means any additional or different plan. It does not identify the particular known plan. -
Other students stayed after class to ask questions.
Students is plural, so other introduces a different group of students.
Not this:
Another studentsstayed after class to ask questions. What changes: Another does not go directly before a plural countable noun. Use other students. -
Please send any other information by email.
Information is uncountable here, so other can introduce a different amount or type of information.
Not this:Please send
another informationby email. What changes: Information is uncountable in this use. Another normally needs a singular countable noun. -
Maya took another slice of bread after lunch.
Slice is a singular countable noun. Another means that Maya took one more slice.
Not this:Maya took
the other sliceof bread after lunch. What changes: Another adds one more slice. The other slice identifies a particular different slice that is already known in the situation.
Read the full guide
The easiest way to avoid a mistake is to look at the noun immediately after the word. Another normally goes with one singular countable noun. Other can introduce one singular countable noun, more than one plural noun, or an uncountable noun. The meaning also matters. Another often adds one more item. Other points away from the item already mentioned and toward a different item or group.
Start with one more item
Use another when you want one more singular countable thing. A countable noun is something you can count as one, two, or three: cup, email, chair, and question. Another fits because you are adding one item to the situation.
Can I borrow another chair for the meeting?
The speaker needs one more chair. Chair is singular and countable, so another chair is the natural phrase.
Which phrase asks for one more singular countable item: another chair or other chairs?
Use another chair. Other chairs refers to more than one different chair.
Use other for a different singular noun
Use a determiner or quantity word plus other plus a singular countable noun when you mean a different one. The noun stays singular: the other answer, any other route, or one other day. Use the when the listener can identify the particular different item from the context. For example, the other entrance can mean the second entrance in a known building.
Try the other entrance because this door is locked.
The speaker and listener know which different entrance is meant. The points to that particular entrance.
What does another entrance suggest in the same situation?
It suggests an additional or different entrance without identifying one particular known entrance.
Keep plural nouns with other
Another does not go directly before a plural countable noun. When you mean different people or things in the plural, use other plus the plural noun: other people, other dates, other options. Use the other plus a plural noun when the group is already known.
Other guests arrived after the ceremony began.
Guests is plural, so the phrase needs other. The sentence refers to a different group of guests.
Correct this phrase: another ideas.
Say other ideas. Ideas is plural, and other goes before plural countable nouns.
Use other with uncountable nouns
Some nouns describe an amount, material, or general idea rather than separate items. Advice, furniture, traffic, and information are common uncountable nouns. Use other before these nouns when you mean a different amount or kind: other advice or other information. If you need to count a unit, add a countable word: another piece of advice or another item of furniture.
The guide includes other information about local transport.
Information is uncountable, so other information is possible. Another needs a countable unit such as another piece of information.
How can you ask for one more unit of advice?
Say another piece of advice. Piece is singular and countable, so it can follow another.
Check meaning before word order
The grammar form is important, but meaning decides the final choice. Another usually adds one more item. Other distinguishes an item, group, or amount from what has already been mentioned. Compare I need another password with I need the other password. The first means one more password. The second means a particular different password that is already part of the situation.
We need other volunteers for the afternoon shift.
Volunteers is plural, and the speaker needs a different group of people for the shift.
Why is another volunteers incorrect?
Volunteers is plural. Use another with one singular countable noun, and use other with plural nouns.
Make a quick choice
Before you write, look at the noun. One singular countable noun and one more item usually means another. A different singular noun needs a determiner or quantity word with other, while a plural or uncountable noun can follow other directly. If the noun is already clear and you leave it out, another can stand alone: This pen does not work. Can I have another? Keep the noun in the sentence while you are learning the pattern, then omit it only when the reference is obvious.
This explanation is clear. Could you give another?
Another can stand for another explanation because the noun is clear from the previous sentence.
What should you ask yourself before choosing another or other?
Ask whether you mean one more or something different, then check whether the following noun is singular countable, plural, or uncountable.
Before you go
Remember this
Use another with a singular countable noun when you mean one more: another question. Use other for a different singular noun, plural nouns, and uncountable nouns: other question, other questions, other advice. Check both the meaning and the noun that follows the word before you choose.
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 "Another and other: add or distinguish"
When should I use another?
Use another with a singular countable noun when you mean one more item or a different one. For example, another pen means one more pen. When the noun is already clear, another can stand alone, as in Can I have another?
I need another pen because this one has run out of ink.
What is the difference between another and other?
Another usually refers to one additional singular countable item. Other refers to something different. It goes directly before plural nouns and uncountable nouns, while a singular countable noun needs a determiner or quantity word: the other plan, any other plan, or one other plan.
I need a other pen because this one has run out of ink.
Can I use another before a plural noun?
No. Do not use another directly before a plural countable noun. Say other students, other ideas, or other options. Use another with one singular countable noun, such as another student or another idea.
We can discuss the other plan after lunch.
Can other be used with uncountable nouns?
Yes. Use other before uncountable nouns when you mean a different amount or kind, for example other information or other advice. To add one countable unit, use a countable word: another piece of information or another piece of advice.
We can discuss another plan after lunch.
Why do we say the other plan?
Use the other plus a noun when the listener can identify a particular different item from the context. The other plan can refer to the remaining plan in a known choice. Another plan would mean an additional or unspecified different plan instead.
Other students stayed after class to ask questions.