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other/another

ˈʌðə / əˈnʌðə

Another is one more; the other is the one left

The picture One more of the same thing set down beside what is already there is another; when you pick up one of a pair, the one still lying there is the other. ANOTHER adds one more; THE OTHER is the remaining one of two.

Easily confused pairs

Where the picture shows up in other/another

  1. one more of the same

    Could I have another cup?

    kʊd aɪ hæv əˈnʌðə kʌp

    Could I have another cup?

    An empty cup pushed aside and an identical full one set down in its place

    another contains a, so it goes with exactly one countable thing.

  2. the remaining one of two

    The other shoe is under the bed.

    ði ˈʌðə ʃuː ɪz ˈʌndə ðə bed

    The other shoe is under the bed.

    Standing in one shoe, peering under the bed for its partner

    With only two, everyone knows which one, so it takes the.

  3. the rest of a group

    Some people like it, others don't.

    sʌm ˈpiːpl laɪk ɪt, ˈʌðəz dəʊnt

    Some people like it, others don't.

    At a tasting table, some heads nodding while other hands set the cup back down

    Others stands on its own when it points at several people or things.

  4. some unnamed day

    Let's meet another day.

    lets miːt əˈnʌðə deɪ

    Let's meet another day.

    A line drawn through today on the calendar and a finger landing on a square still empty

    No particular day has been picked, so it is another day.

  5. whatever else is left

    Do you have any other questions?

    duː juː hæv ˈeni ˈʌðə ˈkwestʃənz

    Do you have any other questions?

    Closing the folder at the service desk and waiting for whatever the customer has not asked yet

    With three or more left, it is other questions — no the.

All of it in one picture

Asking for one more coffee is another — the a inside it means exactly one more. A shoe comes in twos, so the one still missing is the other. Out of a crowd, the rest are others, and moving a meeting means any unnamed day: another day. The last one, other questions, sweeps up whatever else is left — three or more, and other stands without the.

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