Other vs. Others vs. The other vs. Another – English Grammar Exercises for B2
Read the frantic inner monologue of someone who has just dropped their wireless earbud. Pay close attention to the context of searching for a missing part of a pair, and choose the best option to complete the sentences.
1 “Oh no, not again! I have the left earbud right here in my hand, but where did ______ go?”
(a) another
(b) the other
(c) others
(d) other
2 “I absolutely cannot afford to buy ______ pair of expensive wireless earphones right now!”
(a) other
(b) the others
(c) another
(d) the other
3 “I have already checked the living room and the kitchen. Now I need to search ______ rooms in the apartment.”
(a) others
(b) other
(c) another
(d) the other
4 “Think logically. You have two pockets in your jacket. If it is not in the right one, it has to be in ______.”
(a) another
(b) other
(c) the other
(d) the others
5 “Wait, I see a small white object under the sofa! Never mind, it was just ______ piece of crumpled paper.”
(a) the other
(b) other
(c) another
(d) others
6 “Some people don’t mind losing a single earbud and just listen in mono, but ______ go completely crazy, exactly like me right now!”
(a) the other
(b) others
(c) another
(d) other
7 “Since these earbuds are designed as a matched pair, holding just one is completely useless without ______.”
(a) the other
(b) another
(c) other
(d) others
8 “I asked my sister to help me look for it, but she is busy focusing on ______ tasks.”
(a) others
(b) another
(c) the other
(d) other
9 “I found my keys, my wallet, and my phone. Now I just need to find this missing earbud so it can safely join ______ in my bag.”
(a) another
(b) the others
(c) other
(d) the other
10 “If I really can’t find it, I guess I will have to switch to ______ brand of earphones entirely.”
(a) another
(b) other
(c) the other
(d) others
11 “I know I dropped it right here by the desk! It couldn’t have just vanished into ______ dimension!”
(a) other
(b) another
(c) the other
(d) others
12 “There are three cushions on this couch. I lifted two of them and found nothing. Let me check under ______.”
(a) another
(b) other
(c) the other
(d) the others
13 “Why does Apple design them so small and slippery? ______ tech companies at least offer a safety strap!”
(a) The other
(b) Another
(c) Other
(d) Others
14 “Okay, stay calm. I have one AirPod safely sitting in the charging case, but ______ is currently missing in action.”
(a) the other
(b) another
(c) other
(d) others
15 “If I buy a single replacement earbud online, I am worried it might not sync perfectly with ______ one I already own.”
(a) another
(b) the other
(c) other
(d) the others
16 “I looked under the bed with a flashlight, but I only found dust bunnies and ______ lost items from last year.”
(a) others
(b) another
(c) other
(d) the other
17 “Please, if anyone finds it, let me know! I really do not want to spend ______ $100 on a replacement!”
(a) other
(b) another
(c) the other
(d) others
18 “I have exactly two options right now: either I find it in the next five minutes, or I have to accept ______ option, which is crying over my lost money.”
(a) the other
(b) another
(c) other
(d) others
19 “This is the worst. My left ear is listening to my favorite playlist, but my right ear is forced to listen to ______ people’s annoying conversations!”
(a) the other
(b) another
(c) other
(d) others
20 “A wireless earbud is entirely dependent on its twin; the left one is practically worthless if you permanently lose ______.”
(a) other
(b) another
(c) the other
(d) others
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (b) the other
- Why it is correct (The Key): Earbuds come in a pair (exactly two). When you have one, the remaining one is specific and definite. Therefore, you must use “the other.”
- Error Analysis: (a) another (Means “one more” of an unlimited amount, not the specific missing half of a pair). (c) others (Plural pronoun; an earbud is singular). (d) other (Needs a noun after it, e.g., “the other earbud”).
2 (c) another
- Why it is correct (The Key): The speaker is talking about buying “one more” or “an additional” pair of earphones. Another + singular countable noun.
- Error Analysis: (a) other (Used before plural nouns, not singular “pair”). (b) the others (Pronoun, cannot be followed by a noun). (d) the other (Refers to a specific remaining pair, which doesn’t fit the context of buying a brand new, random one from a store).
3 (b) other
- Why it is correct (The Key): Other + plural noun refers to additional or different items in general. The speaker needs to check “other rooms” (plural).
- Error Analysis: (a) others (This is a pronoun and stands alone; it cannot be placed directly before the noun “rooms”). (c) another (Must be followed by a singular noun). (d) the other (Would mean there is only exactly one specific room left to check, but “rooms” is plural here).
4 (c) the other
- Why it is correct (The Key): The context sets up a specific pair: “two pockets.” If it is not in pocket A, it must be in the specific, remaining pocket B (“the other”).
- Error Analysis: (a) another (Implies there are three or more pockets). (b) other (Needs a plural noun). (d) the others (Plural pronoun, but there is only one pocket left).
5 (c) another
- Why it is correct (The Key): The speaker found “one more” random piece of trash. Another + singular countable noun.
- Error Analysis: (a) the other (Implies there were exactly two specific pieces of trash in the world). (b) other (Used with plural/uncountable nouns). (d) others (Plural pronoun).
6 (b) others
- Why it is correct (The Key): Others acts as a plural pronoun meaning “other people” in general. It replaces “other people” to avoid repetition after “Some people…”.
- Error Analysis: (a) the other (Singular). (c) another (Singular). (d) other (Requires a noun after it, e.g., “other people”).
7 (a) the other
- Why it is correct (The Key): The sentence explicitly mentions a “matched pair” (two items). The missing half is a specific, definite item: “the other” (meaning the other earbud).
- Error Analysis: (b) another (Would mean any random third earbud). (c) other (Needs a noun). (d) others (Plural pronoun).
8 (d) other
- Why it is correct (The Key): Other + plural noun (“tasks”). She is focusing on different, unspecified tasks.
- Error Analysis: (a) others (Pronoun; cannot be followed by the noun “tasks”). (b) another (Must be used with a singular noun, “task”). (c) the other (Implies a specific, known set of tasks, which is not established here).
9 (b) the others
- Why it is correct (The Key): The others is a plural pronoun referring to a specific remaining group of items that were just mentioned (the keys, wallet, and phone).
- Error Analysis: (a) another (Singular). (c) other (Requires a noun). (d) the other (Singular pronoun, but here we are referring to multiple items).
10 (a) another
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Brand” is a singular countable noun. The speaker means “a different” brand. Another + singular noun.
- Error Analysis: (b) other (Requires a plural noun like “other brands”). (c) the other (Implies there are only exactly two brands in the world). (d) others (Pronoun; cannot be followed by a noun).
11 (b) another
- Why it is correct (The Key): The speaker is exaggerating, suggesting the earbud went to “one more” or “a different” (unspecified) dimension. Another + singular noun.
- Error Analysis: (a) other (Used with plural nouns). (c) the other (Implies there are exactly two dimensions). (d) others (Plural pronoun).
12 (c) the other
- Why it is correct (The Key): There is a defined group of exactly three cushions. The speaker checked two. Basic math: 3 – 2 = 1 There is exactly one specific cushion remaining, so it must be “the other.”
- Error Analysis: (a) another (Implies the group size is unknown or unlimited). (b) other (Needs a noun). (d) the others (Plural, but only one cushion is left).
13 (c) Other
- Why it is correct (The Key): Other + plural noun (“tech companies”). Refers to different companies in a general sense.
- Error Analysis: (a) The other (Implies a specific remaining group of companies that was previously defined). (b) Another (Used with singular nouns). (d) Others (Pronoun; cannot be placed before the noun “tech companies”).
14 (a) the other
- Why it is correct (The Key): Again, AirPods come in a pair of two. One is safe, so the remaining one is definite. “The other” acts as a pronoun here replacing “the other AirPod”.
- Error Analysis: (b) another (A random third AirPod). (c) other (Needs a noun). (d) others (Plural pronoun).
15 (b) the other
- Why it is correct (The Key): Modifying the singular pronoun “one”. Because it refers to the remaining half of the specific pair they already own, it requires the definite article: “the other one.”
- Error Analysis: (a) another (Would mean “another one,” which means a third, random earbud). (c) other (Cannot precede “one” without an article in this context). (d) the others (Plural, but “one” is singular).
16 (c) other
- Why it is correct (The Key): Other + plural noun (“lost items”). The speaker found different, unspecified items.
- Error Analysis: (a) others (Pronoun; cannot precede the noun “items”). (b) another (Used with singular nouns). (d) the other (Singular, or if referring to specific items, would mean exactly all the remaining items in a defined group).
17 (b) another
- Why it is correct (The Key): Advanced Rule: Another is used before numbers with plural nouns to mean “an additional amount” (e.g., another 100 dollars, another three weeks).
- Error Analysis: (a) other (Grammatically incorrect before a number like this). (c) the other (Implies a specific $100 bill). (d) others (Pronoun).
18 (a) the other
- Why it is correct (The Key): The sentence explicitly states there are “exactly two options.” Option 1 is finding it. Option 2 is the specific, remaining option: “the other option.”
- Error Analysis: (b) another (Implies there is a third option). (c) other (Needs a plural noun). (d) others (Plural pronoun).
19 (c) other
- Why it is correct (The Key): Other + plural noun (“people’s conversations”). Refers to different people in general.
- Error Analysis: (a) the other (Would mean a specific remaining group of people). (b) another (Used with singular nouns). (d) others (Pronoun; cannot precede the noun “people”).
20 (c) the other
- Why it is correct (The Key): The sentence defines a “twin” (a pair of two). If you have the left one, the missing one is specifically “the other.”
- Error Analysis: (a) other (Needs a noun). (b) another (A random third item). (d) others (Plural).
GRAMMAR POINTS TO REMEMBER
Navigating these words is all about counting and determining if you need an Adjective (placed before a noun) or a Pronoun (stands alone).
1 The “Pairs” Rule (THE OTHER): Whenever you are dealing with a set of exactly TWO things (eyes, hands, shoes, earbuds, two options), the first one is “one,” and the second one is ALWAYS “the other” (because it is the specific remaining part).
2 ANOTHER (An + Other): Means “one more” or “a different one.”
- Rule: Always followed by a singular countable noun (e.g., another earbud, another brand).
- Exception: It can be followed by a number + plural noun to mean an additional amount (e.g., another 50 dollars, another three days).
3 OTHER vs. OTHERS:
- OTHER is an adjective. It must be followed by a plural or uncountable noun (e.g., other people, other rooms).
- OTHERS is a pronoun. It has an “s” at the end, so it stands alone and replaces the noun entirely (e.g., Some people like it; others do not.). Never put a noun right after “others”.
4 THE OTHER vs. THE OTHERS:
- Adding “The” makes it definite. You use these when you know exactly how many items are left in a specific group.
- The other: The specific singular remaining item (e.g., I have 3 pens. Two are red, the other is blue).
- The others: The specific plural remaining items, acting as a pronoun (e.g., I have 5 friends. One is here, where are the others?).