Reciprocal Pronouns

The words that express mutual actions or relationships

Reciprocal pronouns indicate that two or more people/things are performing the same action mutually or experiencing the same relationship. English has two primary reciprocal pronouns:

  • Each other (traditionally for two entities)
  • One another (traditionally for three+ entities)

Modern usage often blends these rules, but distinctions remain in formal writing.

Core Characteristics

  • Mutual action: Always involve bidirectional relationships
  • Plural antecedent required: Need multiple subjects ("They love each other")
  • No singular form: Cannot reference single entities
  • Possessive forms: "Each other's"/"One another's"
  • Preposition compatibility: Work with all prepositions ("to", "for", "between")

The Reciprocal Pronoun System

1. "Each Other" (Traditional Use for Pairs)

Basic Examples:
  • "The twins hugged each other." (two people)
  • "The two countries trade with each other."
Advanced Uses:
  • Subject position: "Each other's opinions mattered deeply to them." (rare but grammatical)
  • With prepositions: "They sat opposite each other at the table."
  • Possessive form: "They borrowed each other's clothes."

2. "One Another" (Traditional Use for Groups)

Basic Examples:
  • "The team members supported one another." (three+ people)
  • "The gears interact with one another." (multiple objects)
Advanced Uses:
  • Formal contexts: "The delegates introduced one another at the summit."
  • Abstract reference: "These concepts relate to one another."
  • Possessive form: "They respected one another's boundaries."

3. Modern Usage Trends

Blurring Distinctions:
  • "The couple texts one another constantly." (now acceptable for two)
  • "The triplets compete with each other." (common for groups)
Oxford Guidance:

While traditional rules distinguish based on number, modern usage accepts both forms interchangeably except in highly formal writing.

Grammatical Functions

1. As Direct Objects

  • "The rivals challenged each other to a debate."
  • "The atoms repel one another."

2. As Objects of Prepositions

  • "They smiled at each other across the room."
  • "The countries formed alliances between one another."

3. In Possessive Forms

  • "The sisters brushed each other's hair."
  • "The committee members reviewed one another's reports."
Note:

The apostrophe always comes before the "s" ("each other's" not "each others'").

4. In Compound Structures

  • "They taught each other languages and shared one another's cultures."
  • "The players passed the ball to one another and guarded each other closely."

Special Usage Cases

1. With Different Verb Types

Action Verbs:
  • "The boxers hit each other repeatedly."
Stative Verbs:
  • "The neighbors know one another well."
Reciprocal Verbs:
  • "The friends met each other at the café." (inherently mutual)

2. In Negative Constructions

  • "They haven't seen each other in years."
  • "The teams refused to help one another."

3. With Quantifiers

  • "They gave each other three gifts."
  • "The students corrected one another's papers twice."

4. In Comparative Structures

  • "They love each other more than anyone else."
  • "The companies competed with one another more fiercely."

Common Errors & Corrections

1. Singular Antecedent:
  • ❌ "The man helped each other." → ✅ "The men helped each other."
2. Possessive Form Errors:
  • ❌ "They took each others books." → ✅ "They took each other's books."
3. Reflexive Misuse:
  • ❌ "They introduced themselves to the group." (individual actions) → ✅ "They introduced each other to the group." (mutual action)
4. Missing Reciprocity:
  • ❌ "The team congratulated the coach." (one-way) → ✅ "The team members congratulated one another."

Practice Exercises

1. Fill in the Blanks

  1. "The couple held _____ hands." (each other's)
  2. "The committee members debated among _____." (themselves – reflexive for group action) vs. "The members debated with _____." (one another – mutual interaction)

2. Correct the Errors

  1. ❌ "The sisters washed themselves clothes." → ✅ "each other's"
  2. ❌ "The countries fought one another's borders." → ✅ "over one another's"

3. Transform Sentences

Convert to reciprocal constructions:

  1. "John helps Mary, and Mary helps John." → "John and Mary help each other."
  2. "All group members share ideas with all other members." → "Group members share ideas with one another."

Historical & Comparative Notes

Old English Origins:
  • "Each other" derived from Old English ǣlc ōþer (each + other)
  • "One another" from Middle English merging of numeral + other
Cross-Linguistic Comparison:
  • Spanish: "el uno al otro" (each other), "unos a otros" (one another)
  • German: "einander" (covers both English forms)
  • French: "l'un l'autre" (each other), "les uns les autres" (one another)