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Reciprocal pronouns assist us in giving an account of the events that have one or more persons/objects performing an action on each other. We have some phrases such as ‘each other’ and ‘one another’ to indicate that something is being done among two or more persons or objects. .
Definition of Reciprocal Pronouns
A reciprocal pronoun is used when two or more people or things are acting in the same way toward each other, indicating a mutual or shared action.
- They love each other.
- They helped one another.
- They gave gifts to each other.
- They supported one another.They trusted each other.
Usage of Reciprocal Pronouns
Each Other
These words are used to Refer to two people or things interacting with or affecting one another.
- John and Sarah helped each other with their homework.
- The two cats groomed each other.
One Another
These words are used to refer to interactions among more than two people or things, although in modern usage, it can also be used with two people or things.
- The teammates encouraged one another throughout the game.
- The students shared their notes with one another.
Rules for Using Reciprocal Pronouns
Plural Subjects:
Reciprocal pronouns are always used with a plural subject because the action is mutual.
- They looked at each other. (two people)
- The group members respect one another. (more than two)
Action is Mutual:
The action described by the verb must go both ways or among all participants.
- We should support each other in difficult times.
- The dogs chased one another around the yard.
Prepositions with Reciprocal Pronouns:
When used with prepositions, the preposition comes before the reciprocal pronoun.
- They were talking to each other.
- The children shared their toys with one another.
Possessive Form:
You can form the possessive by adding “‘s” to the reciprocal pronoun.
- They borrowed each other’s books.
- The students checked one another’s work.
When to Use ‘Each Other’ vs. ‘One Another‘
“Each other” is used for two people or things, and “one another” is used for more than two. However, this distinction is not strictly followed in modern English, and both are often used interchangeably.
- Mark and Jane respect each other. (two people)
- The three friends supported one another. (three people)
Examples of Reciprocal Pronouns
- John and Sarah helped each other with their homework.
This sentence shows mutual assistance between two people (John and Sarah), so the pronoun each other is used. The action of helping goes both ways.
- The teammates encouraged one another during the match.
In this example, one another is used because the subject refers to multiple teammates. The encouragement happens mutually among all members of the group.
- The dogs chased each other around the yard.
Two or more dogs are involved in the action of chasing, and they are chasing in a reciprocal manner, meaning the action goes back and forth between the dogs.
- We should always support one another during tough times.
In this sentence, the use of one another emphasizes that more than two people are involved in offering mutual support.
- They were talking to each other during the meeting.
Here, each other indicates that two people (or possibly more) are engaged in mutual conversation.
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