another versus other

[silviasabater_2000]

Hi there,

could someone tell me when to use other or another?

Thanks

[Coffa]

Originally Posted by silviasabater_2000

Hi there,

could someone tell me when to use other or another?

Thanks

"Who is the other woman? Tell me!"

"Is there another woman? Tell me!"

Does this help?

[silviasabater_2000]

Yes, it helps. But appart from that, I thought that another could be used only before singular countable nouns or before few+noun and that other could be used before singular or plural nouns, countable or uncountable. Is that right?

Thanks

[MikeNewYork]

Originally Posted by silviasabater_2000

Yes, it helps. But appart from that, I thought that another could be used only before singular countable nouns or before few+noun and that other could be used before singular or plural nouns, countable or uncountable. Is that right?

Thanks

The word "another" comes from "an/one other". It therefore, has a singular sense. As an adjective it is not used with plural nouns or with non-count nouns (in most uses). Other can be used with singular or plural nouns. Its use with non-count nouns is variable.

[Coffa]

Originally Posted by silviasabater_2000

Yes, it helps. But appart from that, I thought that another could be used only before singular countable nouns or before few+noun and that other could be used before singular or plural nouns, countable or uncountable. Is that right?

Thanks

This is a complicated topic, I'm afraid . I will try to do my best to summarize, but I may miss things:

1) 'Another' is the indefinite article before 'other'. ALONE, it may be used before a singular countable noun ONLY.

2) Before certain adjectival quantifiers ('few', 'number of', 'quantity of',...), it may be used with a plural noun or an uncountable noun. Not all of these quantifiers may be used with uncountable nouns though.

3) In all other cases, 'another' may not be used.