reciprocal pronouns

1. Reciprocal pronouns

2. Let’s begin with the definition of
the word reciprocal:
 A reciprocal action or arrangement involves two
people or groups of people who behave in the same
way or agree to help each other and give each other
advantages.

3. We use reciprocal pronouns
when two or more people do the
same thing.
Traditionally:
 Each other: refers to two people
 One another: refers to more than two people
But this distinction is disappearing in modern English.

4. Examples:
 Peter and Mary helped one another.
= Peter helped Mary and Mary helped Peter.
 We sent each other Christmas cards.
= We sent them a Christmas card and they sent us a
Christmas card.
 They didn’t look at one another.
= He didn't look at her and she didn't look at him.

5. We also use the possessive forms
each other’s and one another’s:
 They helped to look after each other’s children.
 We often stayed in one another’s houses.

6. NOTE:
We do not use reciprocal
pronouns as the subject of a
clause.