Showing that two people do the same thing: reciprocal pronouns

1.141 The reciprocal pronouns 'each other' and 'one another' are used to indicate that people do the same thing, feel the same way, or have the same relationship.

For example, if your brother hates your sister and your sister hates your brother, you can say 'My brother and sister hate each other' or 'They hate one another'.

Reciprocal pronouns are not used as the subject of a clause. You can use them as the object or indirect object of a verb.

We help each other a lot.

You and I understand each other.

I listened to the stags answering one another from hill to hill.

They sent each other gifts from time to time.

You can also use them as the object of a preposition.

Terry and Mark were jealous of each other.

...two lights moving towards one another.

They didn't dare to look at one another.

Some verbs are very commonly used with reciprocal pronouns. For more information about these, see paragraphs 3.69 to 3.73.

1.142 Note that there is very little difference between 'each other' and 'one another'. They can both be used to refer to two or more people or things, although some people prefer the use of 'each other' when there are only two people or things, and 'one another' when there are more than two.

'each' as subject 1.143 In formal written English, you can also use 'each' as the subject of a clause and 'the other' as the object of a clause or preposition. So a more formal way of saying 'They looked at each other' is 'Each looked at the other'. Note that 'each' is always followed by a singular verb.

Each is inextricably in the debt of the other.

Each appears to be unwilling to learn from the experience of the others.

'Each' can also be a determiner. For more information about this, see paragraph 1.228.

's 1.144 You can add 's (apostrophe s) to 'each other', 'one another', and 'the other' to form possessives.

I hope that you all enjoy each other's company.

Apes spend a great deal of time grooming one another's fur.

The male shelducks fight fiercely, each trying to seize the other's long neck in its beak.

Joining clauses together: relative pronouns

1.145 When a sentence consists of a main clause followed by a relative clause introduced by 'who', 'whom', 'which', or 'that', these words are known as relative pronouns.

Relative pronouns do two things at the same time. Like other pronouns, they refer to somebody or something that has already been mentioned. At the same time they are conjunctions, because they join clauses together.

For more information about conjunctions, see Chapter 8.

For more information about relative clauses, see paragraphs 8.83 to 8.116.

'who' and 'whom' 1.146 'Who' and 'whom' always refer to people.

'Who' can be the subject of a relative clause.

...mathematicians who are concerned with very difficult problems.

...a man who I met recently.

In the past, 'whom' was normally used as the object of a relative clause. Nowadays, 'who' is more often used, although some careful speaker of English think that it is more correct to use 'whom'.

There's a woman over there who I can't help noticing.

He's the man who I saw last night.

...two girls whom I met in Edinburgh.

'Who' is sometimes used as the object of a preposition when the object is separated from the preposition. Some careful speakers think that it is more correct to use 'whom'.

That's the man who I gave it to.

...those whom we cannot talk to.

'Whom' is almost always used when the object comes immediately after the preposition.

...Lord Scarman, a man for whom I have immense respect.

1.147 'Which' always refers to things. It can be used as the subject or object of a relative clause, or as the object of a preposition.

...a region which was threatened by growing poverty.

...two horses which he owned.

...the house in which I was born.

Note that 'which' cannot be used as the indirect object of a clause.

1.148 'That' can refer to either people or things. It can be used as the subject or the object of a relative clause or the object of a preposition.

...the games that politicians play.

He's the boy that sang the solo last night.

It was the first bed that she had ever slept in.

'That' cannot be used as the indirect object of a clause.

1.149 'Whose' shows who or what something belongs to or is connected with. Note that it cannot be used by itself, but must come in front of a noun.

'Whose' is often included with relative pronouns, although it is in fact a kind of possessive determiner. For more information on determiners, see paragraphs 1.161 to 1.235.

...the thousands whose lives have been damaged.

There was a chap there whose name I've forgotten.

...predictions whose accuracy will have to be confirmed.

...sharks, whose brains are minute.