RECIPROCAL PRONOUNS

They gave each other gifts for Christmas.

RECIPROCAL PRONOUNS

Reciprocal pronouns are pronouns which are used to indicate that two or more people are carrying out or have carried out an action of some type, with both receiving the benefits or consequences of that action simultaneously. Traditionally, each other refers to two people and one another refers to more two people, but this distinction is disappearing in modern English.

• Julie and Marie helped one another.
• They gave each other gifts for Christmas.
• Terry and Jack were talking to each other in the hallway.
• The kids spent the afternoon kicking the ball to one another.
• We didn’t talk to one another for months.

We also use possessive forms, each other’s and one another’s.

• They helped to look after each other’s pets.
• We often had dinner in one another’s houses.
• We rehearsed one another’s part before going on stage.
• They checked each other’s assignments before handing them in.