Other or Another

[AMG]

When should I say "other and when "another"?
Thanks.

[Rusty]

'Other' is used with the definite article 'the'.
'Another' is used with no article, because the indefinite article is built in.

the other day
another day

In Spanish, both are said 'otro'.
The plural form 'others' is used as it is in Spanish ('los otros').

[AMG]

Thanks a lot

[ROBINDESBOIS]

Another is singular
Other is plural
Another day
Other days

[AMG]

OK, thank you

[AMG]

Originally Posted by ROBINDESBOIS

Another is singular
Other is plural
Another day
Other days

I have a question, is "the other day" correct? Because it is not plural.

[poli]

The other day is good English.

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

@AMG: Check Rusty's answer... it will give you more idea of when to use one or the other.

[AMG]

Ok, right. Are these translations correct?:

- You're the other - Tú eres el otro
- You're another (one) - Tú eres otro
And in the second one, is it necessary the "one" or can it be omitted?
Thanks.

[Rusty]

Using 'one' at the end of both sentences is possible and may be the only right way to say them in certain contexts. Both sentences can be said without the 'one', depending on the situation.

[AMG]

For example:
- You are the other one who came for the job
- You are another guy.

Are they correct?

[Rusty]

Both sentences are grammatically sound.

[Mozzo]

There can be a subtle change in meaning from "an other" when used instead of "another".

such as:
May I have another pastry? But, I want an other flavor.

I know that there are remaining pastries I can choose. But I'm emphasising that I want the flavor to be different that the one I ate earlier. If the phrase is shortened to:

May I have an other pastry?

It still conveys that I want a pastry, but one that differs in some way from the one I had before. The sentence slightly implies that the earlier pastry was not satisfying.

[Rusty]

@Mozzo: the OP wasn't asking about 'an other'. That could be another topic.

'Another' is a determiner (some classify determiners as adjectives), or a pronoun.
'An other' is a determiner followed by an adjective that modifies the noun that follows it, or it is a determiner followed by a pronoun.

In either case, they mean exactly the same thing.

Check the dictionary meanings of 'another' and you'll see that one of the meanings - "different, distinct" - applies directly to your examples. You'll find the same meanings given to 'other'.
'Another' means 'additional' as well as 'different'. So does 'other'.

'An other' became 'another' in the 13th century.

'An other' does exist, and has its place in English, but let's stick to the topic.

[ROBINDESBOIS]

Originally Posted by AMG

I have a question, is "the other day" correct? Because it is not plural.

It is an idiom and it means recently

[Rusty]

The use of other in "the other day" is not idiomatic. "Other" is not plural. It's an adjective. The English adjective doesn't have to agree in number with the noun.

We use 'the other' because the definite article is present. 'Another' is the combined form of 'an other' (note the indefinite article). The combined form is used instead of 'an other'.

[AMG]

Originally Posted by Rusty

The use of other in "the other day" is not idiomatic. "Other" is not plural. It's an adjective. The English adjective doesn't have to agree in number with the noun.

We use 'the other' because the definite article is present. 'Another' is the combined form of 'an other' (note the indefinite article). The combined form is used instead of 'an other'.

Oh, great. Thanks a lot!