Reciprocal pronouns

RECIPROCAL PRONOUNS each other, one another express mutual actions or relations. Each other usually refers to two subjects, one another to more than two, though in informal English the two forms are used interchangeably. Each other is far more common than one another, the latter being a little more formal and old-fashioned.

Reciprocal pronouns distinguish the category of case (common, genitive).

• Reciprocal pronouns are used with such verbs as attract, avoid, complement, embrace, face, fight, help, kiss, marry, meet, repel.

• With some verbs the preposition ‘with’ is used before each other/ one another. Verbs like this include agree, coincide, collaborate, compete, contrast, co-operate, disagree, joke, mix, quarrel, talk.

Exercise 9. Insert each other or one another.

1. The old couple looked at ………. .

2. They were red in the face and found looking at ………. for a moment.

3. The rest of us looked at ………. in amazement. He looked shrewdly at the three.

4. Joan and Roy spoke to ………. only about the game.

5. For the next three days neither Philip nor they spoke to ………. .

6. The two boys faced ………. .

7. The two girls leant towards ………. and spoke in tones audible to no one else.

8. In time, they were joined by others — Olwen Kirby, Lesley Stevens, Jill Bal-lam. Nervously, they grinned at ………. .

9. The two stood gazing at ………. for a minute in silence.

10. And for a moment they all three stood silently looking at ………. .

11. For a moment nothing more was said. And then Simmon and Ralph suddenly smiled at ………. .

12. These three ladies disliked and distrusted ………. .

13. The twins, still sharing their identical grin, jumped up and run round ………. .

14. They sat opposite ………., as they had so often sat before.

15. As lads they had an aversion to………., and Heathcliff would hate just as much to hear him praised: it’s human nature. (E. Bronte)

16. ‘Catherine and Edgar are as fond of ………. as any two people can be,’ cried Isabella, with sudden vivacity. (E. Bronte)

17. They were silent – their faces hid against ………., and washed by ………. tears. At least, I suppose the weeping was on both sides; as it seemed Heathcliff could weep on a great occasion like this. (E. Bronte)

18. ‘We bar ……….,’ said Jolly shortly. (John Galsworthy)

19. The curtains were not yet drawn, though the lamps outside were lighted, the two cousins sat waiting on ………. . (John Galsworthy)

20. At the far end of the room, four wing chairs faced ………. near the front windows. (S. Grafton)

21. The outdoors, as far as I can see, is made up almost entirely of copulating creatures who eat ………. afterward. (S. Grafton)

22. The two stared at ………. . (John Galsworthy)

Exercise 10. Complete the sentences with one of these verbs in an appropriate form followed by either each other or with one another.

avoid collaborate compete face complement

help kiss communicate look know

1. Countries ………. to build the tallest building in the world.

2. We had an argument a few days ago and since then we’ve tried ………. .

3. I think strawberries and ice cream ………. really well.

4. The companies ………. to produce an electric car. It's good to see them working together at last.

5. The two families don’t know ………. .

6. It was the first time the two players ………. across the chess board.

7. If you’ve got a computer, too, we should be able ………. by email.

8. The pupils don’t work on their own; in fact, they're encouraged ………. .

9. We ………. and were friends again.

10. The twins ………. glumly.