Reciprocal Pronouns

 Definition

A reciprocal pronoun is a word used to refer back to the subject including two or more people in which both of them receive  the action of a verb in a reciprocal way. The reciprocal pronoun functions as an object in a sentence.

The reciprocal pronouns are:

• Each other
• One another

Note:

In traditional English grammar, the reciprocal pronoun 'each other' is used  when identifying only two people while the pronoun 'one another' is used to identify more than two people. Nevertheless, this rule is less commonly applied in modern English grammar in which they are used in an interchangeable way.

Example

1. Anna and Sophia hate each other.
2. Alex and Carla love each other.
3. John and Mary were thinking on each other.
4. Those brothers are blaming one another.

In the example (1), Anna and Sophia are  the subject of the verb 'hate' , and are replaced by the reciprocal pronoun 'each other', the object of the same verb , where they mutually benefit from the action of the verb 'hate' in the same way. Furthermore, the usage of the reciprocal pronoun 'each other'  in the example (1) helps to avoid repetition in which instead of using the expression 'Anna hates Sophia and Sophia hates Anna' we should say 'Anna and Sophia hate each other.'

Using reciprocal pronouns or reflexive pronouns

It sounds confused to identify which pronoun should be used a reciprocal or a reflexive pronoun. In fact, each of which is a substitute of  its subject where the subject performs and the object receives the action of the same verb; however, the difference is that the action of a verb made in one way from A to A or from B to B with reflexive pronouns but in mutual way with reciprocal pronouns. As result, the meaning they carry on is  completely different. For example:

1. Anna and Jack help themselves.
2. Anna and Jack help each other.

The example (1) means Anna helps herself and Jack helps himself, yet the example (2) means Anna helps Jack and Jack helps Anna.

Sometimes, we use these pronouns improperly, for instance, the following sentence : 

• We call ourselves every weekend.

This sentence sounds semantically odd as it means A calls A and B calls B every weekend. Hence, the sentence should look like:

• We call each other/one another every weekend.

Using reciprocal Pronouns to show possession

Reciprocal pronouns can be used to show possession. The proper manner of usage is adding an apostrophe (') and an (s) to the end of a reciprocal pronoun.

Example

1. The members of family are sharing each other's ideas.
2. Hannah and Oliver are checking each other's information.
3. They have improperly used each other's data.
4. These beautiful daughters are pleasing with one another's toys.

Note:
To show possession using reciprocal pronouns, it is necessary to take into account that they are used as singular , for the reciprocal pronouns refer to individuals within group. As result, they never take a plural form ; that is , they should not be written like this ( each others' or one anothers').

Exercises

Exercise (1) 

What is the function of a reciprocal pronoun?

1. Replacing an antecedent where both of them mutually receiving the action of the verb in the same way
2. Modifying the subject of a sentence
3. Providing us with extra information describing an antecedent
4. None of them

To refer to two people, which reciprocal pronoun we use.

1. Each other
2. One another

The reciprocal pronouns is used in a sentence as:

1. Subject complement
2. Object complement
3. Subject
4. Object
5. None of them

To form possession using a reciprocal pronoun, we add:

1. An apostrophe (') to the end of the reciprocal pronoun
2. An (s) to the end of the reciprocal pronoun
3. Both an (s) and an apostrophe (')
4. Both an apostrophe (') and an (s)

Exercise (2)

Fill in the blank with the suitable following pronouns

each other, one another, themselves

Hannah and Emma finally met with their close friend to whom they have sent a message....................................  to come visiting them in their small town. They were talking to.................................... and laughing with .................................... on Skype before they reached to fix the time of meeting.

Answer key

Exercise (1)

1

1

4

4

Exercise (2)

Themselves, each other, one another