OTHER, ANOTHER, OTHERS

OTHER / ANOTHER

This is the basic information about these two words:

ANOTHER is singular, and it is used when there isn’t a determiner (article, demonstrative, possessive, etc.) before the noun:

She lives with another man now.

She lives with the other man now (there is a determiner, so we don’t use ANOTHER)

This is my other brother (there is a determiner, so we don’t use ANOTHER)

He took another suitcase (maleta)

He took that other suitcase (there is a determiner, so we don’t use ANOTHER)

Can I have another biscuit?

Can I have the other biscuit?

Another day we went to the countryside. (There is no determiner, so we can’t use OTHER)= Otro día…

The other day we went to the countryside. =El otro día…

OTHER can be singular or plural. In the singular it MUST (obligatory) be used with a determiner (article possessive, demonstrative, etc.). If there is no determiner, then of course we use ANOTHER.

I want other piece of cake is incorrect because there is no determiner. You have to say, depending on the circumstances:

I want the other piece of cake (quiero el otro trozo)

I want another piece o cake (quiero otro trozo)

In the plural, OTHER can be used on its own (solo, sin determinante que le acompañe) or with a determiner, depending on the meaning:

There were other museums.           

Were there any other museums?

Take those other umbrellas.

Other people don’t agree.

My other cousins are single.

They come from other provinces.

There is also OTHERS, with an –S. This is a plural pronoun, not an adjective:

The other doctors arrived later. (Adjective: no plural form)

The others doctors arrived later (Incorrect: adjectives don’t take –S in the plural)

The others arrived later (Pronoun)

Typical mistakes:

Other day we visited the Louvre  >>> ANOTHER day we…

He played with the others toys  >>> …with the other toys (adjective)

REGLA CASERA: si está sin determinante y en singular, necesito ANOTHER. En los demás casos, OTHER.