Other vs. Others vs. The other vs. Another – English Grammar Exercises for B2
Read the live news transcript from an exhausted anchor reporting on an ongoing string of catastrophic weather events. Pay close attention to how the reporter describes the succession of disasters, alternative situations, and remaining groups. Choose the best option to complete the sentences.
1 “Just when residents thought they could finally start rebuilding, meteorologists are tracking yet ______ massive hurricane heading for the coast.”
(a) other
(b) another
(c) the other
(d) others
2 “Two severe storms have formed in the Atlantic. One is moving north, while ______ is heading straight for our city.”
(a) another
(b) other
(c) the other
(d) others
3 “Local emergency funds have been completely depleted; we desperately need financial aid from ______ states to survive this crisis.”
(a) another
(b) the other
(c) others
(d) other
4 “Some citizens evacuated immediately upon hearing the sirens, but unfortunately, ______ stubbornly decided to ride out the storm at home.”
(a) others
(b) other
(c) the other
(d) another
5 “The state governor announced this morning that the heavy rainfall will likely continue for ______ 72 hours.”
(a) other
(b) the other
(c) others
(d) another
6 “Out of the five coastal counties, three have lost power completely. Emergency services are currently trying to establish contact with ______.”
(a) others
(b) the others
(c) another
(d) other
7 “As the main seawall collapsed early this morning, the city faced yet ______ devastating infrastructure failure.”
(a) other
(b) the other
(c) another
(d) others
8 “The mayor presented two evacuation routes. The main highway is completely flooded, meaning citizens must use ______ route.”
(a) another
(b) other
(c) the other
(d) others
9 “First responders are absolutely exhausted. Aside from ongoing water rescues, they are dealing with several ______ simultaneous emergencies.”
(a) another
(b) other
(c) the other
(d) others
10 “We have exactly two water purification facilities. One was destroyed last night, putting immense pressure on ______ to supply the whole city.”
(a) another
(b) the other
(c) other
(d) others
11 “The local hospital’s backup generator just failed, marking yet ______ disastrous turn of events in this unfolding tragedy.”
(a) other
(b) another
(c) the other
(d) others
12 “While the national news teams are focusing heavily on the capital, it is crucial that we do not ignore the suffering of ______ coastal communities.”
(a) others
(b) another
(c) the other
(d) other
13 “The National Guard unit was split into two teams. Half of them are securing the public shelter, while ______ are searching the flooded suburbs.”
(a) another
(b) other
(c) the others
(d) others
14 “If this secondary dam breaks, the governor will have absolutely no choice but to issue ______ state of emergency declaration.”
(a) other
(b) the other
(c) another
(d) others
15 “Looking at the river banks, one side is heavily fortified with military sandbags, but ______ side remains dangerously exposed to the rising water.”
(a) another
(b) other
(c) others
(d) the other
16 “Many charities have sent immediate food supplies, and ______ have promised to provide temporary housing for the displaced families.”
(a) the other
(b) other
(c) others
(d) another
17 “Just hours after the massive landslide, the traumatized town was hit by yet ______ powerful earthquake aftershock.”
(a) other
(b) the other
(c) another
(d) others
18 “To manage the chaotic and panicked evacuation, the military is deploying ______ 1,000 national guard troops to the region.”
(a) another
(b) other
(c) the other
(d) others
19 “We surveyed the ten districts in the valley. Only two managed to stay dry; ______ were completely submerged by the storm surge.”
(a) another
(b) other
(c) the others
(d) others
20 “Citizens are mentally exhausted, facing yet ______ night of freezing temperatures without electricity, heating, or clean water.”
(a) other
(b) another
(c) the other
(d) others
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (b) another
- Why it is correct (The Key): The phrase yet another + singular noun is used to emphasize frustration or shock at one more addition to a series of bad events.
- Error Analysis: (a) other (Requires a plural noun). (c) the other (Implies exactly two storms ever). (d) others (Pronoun).
2 (c) the other
- Why it is correct (The Key): The reporter explicitly mentions “two severe storms.” If one is moving north, the specific, remaining one is definitively “the other.”
- Error Analysis: (a) another (Implies a third storm). (b) other (Needs a plural noun). (d) others (Plural pronoun).
3 (d) other
- Why it is correct (The Key): Other + Plural Noun (“states”). Used as an adjective to refer to additional, unspecified states.
- Error Analysis: (a) another (Used with singular nouns). (b) the other (Would mean specific remaining states, but this is a general plea for help). (c) others (Pronoun; cannot precede the noun).
4 (a) others
- Why it is correct (The Key): Others is a plural pronoun standing in for “other citizens.” It contrasts with the first group (“Some citizens”).
- Error Analysis: (b) other (Requires a noun). (c) the other (Singular). (d) another (Singular).
5 (d) another
- Why it is correct (The Key): Another + Number + Plural Noun. “Another 72 hours” acts as a single, additional quantity of time.
- Error Analysis: (a) other, (b) the other, (c) others cannot be used before a number to quantify an additional block of time in this way.
6 (b) the others
- Why it is correct (The Key): There is a specific, closed group of “five coastal counties.” Three lost power. The remaining two counties are a specific, known quantity, requiring the definite plural pronoun the others.
- Error Analysis: (a) others (General, unspecified counties). (c) another (Singular). (d) other (Needs a noun).
7 (c) another
- Why it is correct (The Key): Yet another + singular noun (“failure”). Emphasizes the reporter’s exhaustion at an endlessly repeating disaster.
- Error Analysis: (a) other (Requires a plural noun). (b) the other (Specific). (d) others (Pronoun).
8 (c) the other
- Why it is correct (The Key): There are “two evacuation routes.” The highway is one; the exact remaining option is “the other route.”
- Error Analysis: (a) another (Implies a third route). (b) other (Needs a plural noun). (d) others (Plural).
9 (b) other
- Why it is correct (The Key): Other + Plural Noun (“emergencies”). Refers to additional, general emergencies happening concurrently.
- Error Analysis: (a) another (Singular). (c) the other (Implies a specific known set). (d) others (Pronoun; cannot precede the noun).
10 (b) the other
- Why it is correct (The Key): Exactly “two water purification facilities.” One is destroyed; the specific remaining one must be “the other.”
- Error Analysis: (a) another (Implies a third facility). (c) other (Needs a plural noun). (d) others (Plural).
11 (b) another
- Why it is correct (The Key): Yet another + singular noun (“turn of events”). Highlights a frustrating, repetitive sequence of bad news.
- Error Analysis: (a) other (Needs a plural noun). (c) the other (Implies exactly two turns of events). (d) others (Pronoun).
12 (d) other
- Why it is correct (The Key): Other + Plural Noun (“coastal communities”). Refers generally to different, unspecified communities.
- Error Analysis: (a) others (Pronoun; cannot precede the noun). (b) another (Singular). (c) the other (Specific remaining communities).
13 (c) the others
- Why it is correct (The Key): The team was split into two halves. If half is at the shelter, the remaining half is a specific, closed group: “the others.”
- Error Analysis: (a) another (Singular). (b) other (Needs a noun). (d) others (General people, not specific to the closed team).
14 (c) another
- Why it is correct (The Key): “State of emergency” is a singular noun. The governor would issue “one more” declaration. Another + Singular Noun.
- Error Analysis: (a) other (Requires a plural noun). (b) the other (Implies exactly two states of emergency exist). (d) others (Pronoun).
15 (d) the other
- Why it is correct (The Key): A river inherently has exactly two banks/sides. If one is fortified, the specific remaining side is “the other side.”
- Error Analysis: (a) another (Implies a third side of the river, which is physically impossible). (b) other (Needs a plural noun). (c) others (Plural).
16 (c) others
- Why it is correct (The Key): Others acts as a plural pronoun replacing “other charities.” It contrasts with the first general group (“Many charities”).
- Error Analysis: (a) the other (Singular). (b) other (Needs a noun). (d) another (Singular).
17 (c) another
- Why it is correct (The Key): Yet another + singular noun (“aftershock”). Used for dramatic journalistic effect to show the relentless nature of the disaster.
- Error Analysis: (a) other (Needs plural). (b) the other (Specific). (d) others (Pronoun).
18 (a) another
- Why it is correct (The Key): Advanced Rule: Another + Number + Plural Noun. “Another 1,000 troops” acts as a single, additional volume of soldiers deployed.
- Error Analysis: (b) other, (c) the other, (d) others cannot be used before a number to quantify an additional block of units in this manner.
19 (c) the others
- Why it is correct (The Key): There is a closed group of exactly “ten districts.” Two are dry. The remaining eight constitute a mathematically specific group: “the others.”
- Error Analysis: (a) another (Singular). (b) other (Needs a noun). (d) others (General, unspecified districts).
20 (b) another
- Why it is correct (The Key): Yet another + singular noun (“night”). Emphasizes the dreadful continuation of a recurring negative event.
- Error Analysis: (a) other (Needs plural). (c) the other (Specific). (d) others (Pronoun).
GRAMMAR POINTS TO REMEMBER
In journalistic reporting or when expressing frustration about a sequence of events, mastering these forms is highly effective.
1 YET ANOTHER (The Frustration Marker):
- When you place “yet” before another, it emphasizes that something is happening one more time in a way that is surprising, frustrating, or overwhelming. It is heavily used in B2/C1 English to complain or report bad news.
- Example: “Oh no, my car broke down again. It’s yet another problem I have to deal with.”
- Rule: Always followed by a singular countable noun.
2 THE OTHER (For Pairs and Opposites):
- Use The other when dealing with exactly TWO things (two storms, two sides of a river, two water facilities).
- Example: “One side is safe, but the other side is dangerous.”
3 THE OTHERS (The Remaining Math):
- Use The others (Pronoun) when you have a specific starting number, subtract a few, and refer to the exact remaining group.
- Example: “We checked 10 districts. 2 are safe, the others are flooded.”
4 ANOTHER + Number (Blocks of Time/People):
- Use Another + Number + Plural Noun to add a unified chunk of time or resources to an ongoing situation.
- Example: “We need another 72 hours and another 1,000 troops.”