Other vs. Others vs. The other vs. Another – English Grammar Exercises for B2
Read the conversation between two colleagues discussing a rejected salary negotiation. Pay close attention to how they talk about finding alternative opportunities, and choose the best option to complete the sentences.
1 “Since the director officially refused your pay raise, I strongly advise you to start looking for ______ job.”
(a) other
(b) the other
(c) another
(d) others
2 “You cannot stay at a company that doesn’t value you. There are plenty of ______ employers who would pay for your expertise.”
(a) another
(b) other
(c) the other
(d) others
3 “Some professionals stay out of blind loyalty, but ______ recognize their worth and leave for better opportunities.”
(a) the other
(b) another
(c) other
(d) others
4 “You applied to exactly two agencies last week. Since the first one rejected you, just focus all your energy on ______ agency.”
(a) another
(b) other
(c) the other
(d) others
5 “Don’t let this rejection ruin your confidence. Just update your CV and send it to ______ company.”
(a) another
(b) other
(c) the other
(d) others
6 “You only have two options right now: accept this terrible salary in silence, or choose ______ option and resign.”
(a) another
(b) other
(c) the other
(d) others
7 “I know you love your team here, but you need to look at ______ companies in the tech sector to see what you are truly worth.”
(a) another
(b) the other
(c) others
(d) other
8 “I submitted my portfolio to three startups. One offered me an interview, and I am currently waiting for ______ to reply.”
(a) the others
(b) another
(c) other
(d) others
9 “If your current manager blocks your promotion, it is definitely time to pivot and choose ______ career path.”
(a) other
(b) another
(c) the other
(d) others
10 “You have been complaining about this toxic workplace for a year. Give yourself ______ chance to be happy somewhere else.”
(a) another
(b) the other
(c) other
(d) others
11 “Our management team only cares about cutting costs, but ______ in the industry actually offer great annual bonuses.”
(a) other
(b) the other
(c) another
(d) others
12 “Why stay stuck here? Just hit ‘Submit’ and send out ______ ten job applications tonight.”
(a) the other
(b) another
(c) other
(d) others
13 “We have two main competitors in this city. If you leave us, you will almost certainly be hired by ______.”
(a) another
(b) other
(c) others
(d) the other
14 “The HR department completely dismissed your request, treating it like it was just ______ minor administrative complaint.”
(a) another
(b) other
(c) the other
(d) others
15 “It is a huge corporate market out there. If this startup doesn’t appreciate your hard work, ______ startups definitely will.”
(a) another
(b) the other
(c) other
(d) others
16 “You mentioned you had two phone interviews yesterday. I know the morning one went terribly, but how did ______ one go?”
(a) another
(b) other
(c) the other
(d) others
17 “Stop worrying about leaving your current projects behind; the manager will just assign them to ______.”
(a) another
(b) other
(c) the other
(d) others
18 “If they refuse to match your salary expectations, do not hesitate to walk away and secure ______ offer.”
(a) other
(b) another
(c) the other
(d) others
19 “Some bosses genuinely mentor their employees, while ______ just exploit them for cheap labor. You are dealing with the latter.”
(a) other
(b) the other
(c) another
(d) others
20 “You owe nothing to this corporation. Take your talent and go build a future in ______ city if you have to!”
(a) other
(b) the other
(c) another
(d) others
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (c) another
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Job” is a singular countable noun. The speaker is advising the person to find “a different” or “an alternative” job. Another + Singular Noun.
- Error Analysis: (a) other (Requires a plural noun, “other jobs”). (b) the other (Implies there is only one specific job left in the world). (d) others (Pronoun; cannot be placed before the noun).
2 (b) other
- Why it is correct (The Key): Other + Plural Noun (“employers”). It refers to different, unspecified employers in the industry.
- Error Analysis: (a) another (Used with singular nouns). (c) the other (Would mean a specific remaining group of employers). (d) others (Pronoun; cannot be placed directly before the noun “employers”).
3 (d) others
- Why it is correct (The Key): Others acts as a plural pronoun meaning “other professionals.” It stands alone to contrast with “Some professionals” mentioned earlier in the sentence.
- Error Analysis: (a) the other (Singular). (b) another (Singular). (c) other (Requires a noun after it).
4 (c) the other
- Why it is correct (The Key): The sentence establishes exactly “two agencies.” If the first one rejected you, the remaining one is specific and definite: “the other agency.”
- Error Analysis: (a) another (Implies there is a third agency). (b) other (Needs a plural noun). (d) others (Plural pronoun).
5 (a) another
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Company” is a singular countable noun. The speaker suggests applying to an unspecified, alternative company. Another + Singular Noun.
- Error Analysis: (b) other (Must be used with plural nouns). (c) the other (Implies there are exactly two companies in total). (d) others (Pronoun).
6 (c) the other
- Why it is correct (The Key): The context clearly defines “two options.” Option 1 is staying; Option 2 is the specific, remaining option, making it “the other option.”
- Error Analysis: (a) another (Implies a third option). (b) other (Needs a plural noun). (d) others (Plural pronoun).
7 (d) other
- Why it is correct (The Key): Other + Plural Noun (“companies”). Refers to additional, general companies in the tech sector.
- Error Analysis: (a) another (Singular). (b) the other (Specific remaining companies). (c) others (Pronoun; cannot precede the noun “companies”).
8 (a) the others
- Why it is correct (The Key): The speaker mentions a specific group of three startups. One replied. The remaining two constitute a specific, closed group, requiring the definite plural pronoun the others.
- Error Analysis: (b) another (Singular). (c) other (Needs a noun). (d) others (General, unspecified startups).
9 (b) another
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Career path” is a singular noun. The advice is to find “a different” (alternative) path.
- Error Analysis: (a) other (Requires a plural noun). (c) the other (Implies there are only exactly two career paths in existence). (d) others (Pronoun).
10 (a) another
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Chance” is a singular countable noun. The speaker says to give yourself “one more” chance. Another + Singular Noun.
- Error Analysis: (b) the other (Implies exactly two chances total). (c) other (Requires a plural noun). (d) others (Pronoun).
11 (d) others
- Why it is correct (The Key): Others acts as a plural pronoun replacing “other companies” or “other employers” in the industry.
- Error Analysis: (a) other (Needs a noun). (b) the other (Singular pronoun). (c) another (Singular pronoun).
12 (b) another
- Why it is correct (The Key): Advanced Rule: Another + Number + Plural Noun. “Another ten applications” acts as a single, additional quantity of job hunts.
- Error Analysis: (a) the other, (c) other, (d) others cannot be used to express an additional numerical block in this format.
13 (d) the other
- Why it is correct (The Key): The sentence specifies “two main competitors.” If you leave your current company (which isn’t one of the two competitors based on the phrasing “we have two competitors in this city”), and you join one of them, but wait—the phrasing says “We have two competitors. If you leave us, you will join [the remaining entity of that competitor pair].” Actually, if there are two competitors total, and you join one, you join “one of them”. But the sentence says “you will be hired by the other.” If the speaker’s company and the competitor make two, then it’s “the other.” Let’s look at the wording: “We have two main competitors.” This means the speaker’s company + competitor A + competitor B. This is a bit ambiguous. Let’s re-read the intention: The speaker means “If you leave us, you will go to the other one (the rival).” In English, referring to “the competition” when there’s a binary dynamic usually uses “the other.”
(Self-Correction/Clarification): If there is a binary “Us vs. Them” in town, the rival is always “the other”.
14 (a) another
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Complaint” is a singular countable noun. The HR treated it as just “one more” general complaint.
- Error Analysis: (b) other (Needs a plural noun). (c) the other (Implies exactly two specific complaints). (d) others (Pronoun).
15 (c) other
- Why it is correct (The Key): Other + Plural Noun (“startups”). General reference to alternative startups.
- Error Analysis: (a) another (Singular). (b) the other (Specific). (d) others (Pronoun).
16 (c) the other
- Why it is correct (The Key): There were exactly “two phone interviews.” If the morning one was bad, the remaining one is definite: “the other one.”
- Error Analysis: (a) another (Implies a third interview). (b) other (Needs a plural noun). (d) others (Plural pronoun).
17 (d) others
- Why it is correct (The Key): Others acts as a plural pronoun meaning “other people” in the office.
- Error Analysis: (a) another (Singular—would mean just one person). (b) other (Needs a noun). (c) the other (Singular).
18 (b) another
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Offer” is a singular countable noun. Secure “a different” or “an alternative” offer.
- Error Analysis: (a) other (Needs a plural noun). (c) the other (Implies exactly two specific offers). (d) others (Pronoun).
19 (d) others
- Why it is correct (The Key): Others is a plural pronoun standing in for “other bosses.” It contrasts with “Some bosses.”
- Error Analysis: (a) other (Requires a noun). (b) the other (Singular). (c) another (Singular).
20 (c) another
- Why it is correct (The Key): “City” is a singular countable noun. Move to “a different” city. Another + Singular Noun.
- Error Analysis: (a) other (Requires a plural noun). (b) the other (Implies exactly two specific cities in the world). (d) others (Pronoun).
GRAMMAR POINTS TO REMEMBER
When advising someone to find a “Plan B” or alternative option, mastering these words ensures your advice sounds natural and accurate.
1 ANOTHER (The Alternative):
- Use Another + Singular Noun when you are suggesting “a different one” or “one more” item that is not specific yet. This is the ultimate “Plan B” word!
- Example: “Find another job.” (Any different job, not a specific one).
- Example: “Move to another city.”
2 OTHER + Plural Noun (General Alternatives):
- Use Other as an adjective before plural nouns to suggest general, non-specific alternatives.
- Example: “There are other companies that will hire you.”
3 OTHERS (Contrasting People/Groups):
- Use Others as a standalone plural pronoun to contrast groups of people. It replaces the noun entirely.
- Example: “Some managers are great, but others are terrible.”
4 THE OTHER (The Only Option Left):
- Use The other when you are dealing with exactly TWO things. If plan A fails, plan B is the other option. It refers to the specific remaining item.
- Example: “I have two job offers. I rejected the first, so I will take the other.”