A reciprocal pronoun shows that two or more people, animals or things do the same thing to each other at the same time — the action is exchanged in both directions between the members of the subject. English has two reciprocal pronouns: each other and one another.
Compare the plain statement with the reciprocal one:
- Tom loves Sue. Sue loves Tom. → Tom and Sue love each other.
- The two brothers argue with each other. (Brother A argues with Brother B, and Brother B argues with Brother A.)
Reciprocal pronouns always need a plural subject — either a plural noun/pronoun (they, the students, the teams) or two singular subjects joined with "and" (Tom and Sue). A single person acting alone cannot use a reciprocal pronoun.
Each Other vs. Reflexive Pronouns: The Key Confusion
ESL learners very often confuse reciprocal pronouns (each other, one another) with reflexive pronouns (myself, yourself, himself, herself, ourselves, themselves). The difference is about who receives the action:
- Reflexive: the subject acts on itself. Each person does something to their own self.
Tom and Sue blame themselves. (Tom blames himself; Sue blames herself. No exchange between them.) - Reciprocal: the subject members act on each other, exchanging the action.
Tom and Sue blame each other. (Tom blames Sue; Sue blames Tom.)
Quick test: If the action bounces back and forth between two or more separate people, use a reciprocal pronoun. If each person's action stays with their own self, use a reflexive pronoun.
Each Other or One Another?
Traditionally, grammar books teach a number-based rule:
| Pronoun | Traditional rule | Example |
|---|---|---|
each other | Used for exactly two people or things | The two brothers argued with each other. |
one another | Used for three or more people or things | All five colleagues respect one another. |
In practice, most modern native speakers use each other for both two and more-than-two situations, and this is now fully accepted in everyday English. One another still appears, especially in more formal or literary writing, but it is largely a matter of style rather than a strict grammatical rule today. Both forms are correct and interchangeable in almost all contexts — you will not be marked wrong for using "each other" with a group of five.
Possessive Forms: Each Other's / One Another's
Reciprocal pronouns have possessive forms, made by adding 's, just like a singular noun. Use them before a noun to show something belongs to or relates to the other member(s):
- They borrowed each other's books.
- The teams studied one another's tactics before the match.
- We always remember each other's birthdays.
Watch the apostrophe: The possessive is each other's (apostrophe before the s), never each others'. "Each other" is treated as one unit, similar to a singular noun, so the possessive 's goes at the very end of the whole phrase.
Reciprocal Verbs and Prepositions
Reciprocal pronouns frequently follow verbs that describe mutual actions, often paired with a preposition:
- look at each other — They looked at each other and smiled.
- talk to each other — My neighbours talk to each other every morning.
- help each other — Good teammates help each other.
- depend on one another — The species depend on one another for survival.
- compete with each other — The two shops compete with each other for customers.
- write to one another — The pen pals write to one another every month.
More Examples: Reciprocal vs. Reflexive
| Reciprocal (exchanged action) | Reflexive (action on self) |
|---|---|
| The children hurt each other while playing. (one hurt the other, and vice versa) | The child hurt himself while playing. (he hurt his own self) |
| The colleagues introduced themselves to each other at the meeting. | She introduced herself at the meeting. |
| The old friends couldn't stop looking at each other. | She couldn't stop looking at herself in the mirror. |
Common Mistakes
-
Confusing reciprocal with reflexive pronouns: Using "themselves" when the action is really exchanged between two separate people.
Wrong: Tom and Sue blame themselves for the argument. (if you mean Tom blames Sue and Sue blames Tom)
Correct: Tom and Sue blame each other for the argument. -
Using a reciprocal pronoun with a singular subject: "Each other" and "one another" need two or more entities in the subject.
Wrong: She talks to each other every day.
Correct: She and her sister talk to each other every day. -
Wrong apostrophe placement in the possessive: The apostrophe goes before the final s, not after.
Wrong: They read each others' letters.
Correct: They read each other's letters. - Treating "each other" as strictly "two only": While the traditional rule reserves "each other" for two and "one another" for three or more, modern usage accepts "each other" for any number, so learners should not worry too much about miscounting the group.
Practice Tips
Ask "who does what to whom?" Before choosing a pronoun, check whether the action bounces between separate people (reciprocal: each other / one another) or stays with each person's own self (reflexive: themselves).
- Rewrite pairs of sentences: Take two simple sentences like "Ana calls Bea. Bea calls Ana." and combine them into one reciprocal sentence: "Ana and Bea call each other."
- Practise the possessive: Make sentences using "each other's" or "one another's" before a noun (books, names, opinions, houses) to build the pattern into memory.
- Contrast drill: Write pairs of sentences, one reflexive and one reciprocal, using the same verb (e.g. blame themselves / blame each other) to sharpen the distinction.
Practice Exercises
Grammar Quiz
Choose between each other, one another and reflexive pronouns in context.
Complete the Sentence
Type the correct reciprocal pronoun or possessive form.
True or False
Decide whether each sentence correctly uses a reciprocal pronoun.
Flash Cards
Drill reciprocal vs. reflexive pronoun pairs.
Matching Pairs
Match sentence halves using each other and one another correctly.
Unjumble
Reorder scrambled words into correctly formed reciprocal sentences.
Practise Each Other & One Another
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are reciprocal pronouns?
Reciprocal pronouns are "each other" and "one another." They show that two or more people, animals or things perform the same action toward each other at the same time. For example, "Tom and Sue love each other" means Tom loves Sue AND Sue loves Tom — the action is exchanged between both members of the subject.
What is the difference between reciprocal and reflexive pronouns?
Reflexive pronouns (myself, yourself, himself, herself, ourselves, themselves) show the subject acting on its own self: "Tom and Sue blame themselves" means Tom blames himself and Sue blames herself. Reciprocal pronouns (each other, one another) show the action being exchanged between separate members of the subject: "Tom and Sue blame each other" means Tom blames Sue and Sue blames Tom.
Should I use "each other" for two people and "one another" for three or more?
That is the traditional prescriptive rule still taught in some grammar books: "each other" for exactly two people or things, "one another" for three or more. In modern practice, however, native speakers generally use "each other" for both situations, and "one another" is now more a matter of formal or literary style than a strict grammatical rule. Both are widely accepted.
How do I form the possessive of each other and one another?
Add an apostrophe and s to the end of the whole phrase: "each other's" and "one another's." For example, "They borrowed each other's books" or "The teams studied one another's tactics." The apostrophe goes before the final s, treating "each other" like a single unit, similar to a singular noun.
Why is "each others'" wrong?
"Each others'" incorrectly treats "other" as a plural noun that needs the apostrophe after the s, like "the students' books." But "each other" functions as one fixed unit, so the possessive apostrophe always goes before the final s: "each other's," never "each others'."
Can I use a reciprocal pronoun with a singular subject?
No. Reciprocal pronouns require a plural subject, or two singular subjects joined by "and," because the action must be exchanged between at least two entities. "She talks to each other every day" is incorrect because "she" is singular and alone. It should be "She and her sister talk to each other every day" or "They talk to each other every day."
What is an example of each other used correctly?
"The two brothers argued with each other" is a correct example: Brother A argued with Brother B, and Brother B argued with Brother A, so the action was exchanged between them. Other examples include "They looked at each other and smiled" and "Good teammates help each other."
What is an example of one another used correctly?
"All five colleagues respect one another" is a correct example, showing mutual respect exchanged among a group of more than two people. Other examples include "The species depend on one another for survival" and "The pen pals write to one another every month."
Which verbs commonly go with each other or one another?
Many verbs describing mutual actions pair naturally with reciprocal pronouns, often with a preposition: look at each other, talk to each other, help each other, depend on one another, compete with each other, and write to one another. These "reciprocal verbs" describe actions that naturally involve two or more participants acting on each other.
How can I tell whether to use a reciprocal or reflexive pronoun in a sentence?
Ask "who does what to whom?" If the action bounces back and forth between separate people (Tom acts on Sue, Sue acts on Tom), use a reciprocal pronoun: each other or one another. If each person's action stays with their own self (Tom acts on Tom, Sue acts on Sue), use a reflexive pronoun: themselves, himself, herself, and so on.