What Are Reciprocal Pronouns? (with Examples)
A reciprocal
pronoun expresses a mutual action or relationship. In English, the reciprocal
pronouns are:
·
Each other
·
One another
Examples of Reciprocal Pronouns
Here are some
examples of reciprocal pronouns:
·
Jack and Jill hate each
other.
(Note: Jack hates Jill, and Jill hates Jack. The action is
reciprocated.)
·
The crayfish starting
attacking one another.
·
The team members played
their hearts out for one another.
·
They gave each
other presents.
·
Have you seen each
other's solution?
(Note: Each
other is treated as
singular. Therefore, the possessive apostrophe is placed before the s.)
·
The competitors were
deliberately blocking one another's view to gain an advantage.
(Note: One another is treated as singular. Therefore,
the possessive apostrophe is placed before the s.)
Each Other or One Another?
Here's the
quick answer: If the antecedent is
two things, use each other.
If it's more than two, use one
another.
Here's a longer explanation: A reciprocal pronoun is used when at least one thing reciprocates another's action (i.e., does the same thing back). As a result, the antecedent of a reciprocal pronoun (i.e., what it refers back to) is always something plural. For example:
·
Our dog and cat love each
other.
(Here, the
antecedent of each other is our
dog and cat, which is plural.)
·
They love each
other.
(Here, the
antecedent of each other is they,
which is plural. In this example,they refers to our dog and cat.)
When the
antecedent is two things (like in both examples above), use each other as the reciprocal pronoun. However,
when the antecedent is three or more things, use one another.
Look at these examples:
·
Our two dogs and your cat
love one another.
(Here, the
antecedent of one another is our
two dogs and your cat, which is three things.)
·
They love one
another.
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(Here, the
antecedent of one another is they,
which we know represents three things.)
Note: If your readers pick you up for using the wrong
reciprocal pronoun, then you have some world-class grammar pedants on your
hands.
Each Other's Not Each Others'
The pronouns each other and one another are singular entities (despite
having plural antecedents). Therefore, when showing possession, the
apostrophe comes before the s.
This is a 100% rule.
·
Do you two admire each
other's courage?
(Note: Each other is treated as singular. Therefore,
the possessive apostrophe is placed before the s.)
·
Do you three admire one
another's courage?
(Note: One another is treated as singular. Therefore,
the possessive apostrophe is placed before the s.)
Pronoun
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