Reciprocal Pronouns Quiz
10 multiple-choice questions on each other, one another, their possessive forms, and how they differ from reflexive pronouns like themselves.
This quiz checks how confidently you can apply reciprocal pronouns at A2-B1 level, with questions built around real example sentences rather than abstract rule statements. Each question asks you to judge whether the action is exchanged between separate people (reciprocal) or stays with each person's own self (reflexive), or to choose the correct possessive form. Read the full Reciprocal Pronouns grammar guide first if you need a refresher.
If a question catches you out, the FAQ section below explains the underlying rule in more detail, including the classic "each others'" apostrophe mistake. Reviewing the explanation immediately after an incorrect answer, then retrying the quiz on a different day, builds more durable grammar knowledge than repeating the same 10 questions back to back.
Reciprocal Pronouns — FAQ
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.