Reciprocal Pronoun

Definition

Reciprocal pronoun can be defined as “A reciprocal pronoun is a pronoun which is used to indicate that two or more people are carrying out or have carried out an action of same type, with both receiving the benefits or consequences of that action simultaneously. Any time something is done or given in return, demonstrative pronouns are used.”

Explanation

A reciprocal pronoun is a pronoun which we use in the sentence to show the same action performed by the two or more people including the benefits and consequences of that action to them simultaneously.

Reciprocal pronouns are generally used in the sentence in order to avoid the repetition of same action performed by the two or more people. Reciprocal pronouns are phrases and not an individual words.

There are two reciprocal pronouns (each other and one another) which help us to make sentences simple.

Use of ‘Each Other’: ‘Each other’ is used in the sentence when there is need to show two people performing same action.

Use of ‘One Another’: ‘One another’ is used in the sentence when there is need to show more than two people performing same action.

For Example:

• Meera is giving gift to Seena and Seena is giving gift to Meera. (a common and long sentence without use of reciprocal pronoun)
• Meera and Seena are giving gift to each other. (a simple and short sentence by the use of reciprocal pronoun)
• Three people are playing football in the ground by sharing from first to second, second to third and third to first. (a common and long sentence without use of reciprocal pronoun)
• They are playing football in the ground by passing to one another. (a simple and short sentence by the use of reciprocal pronoun)

We can also use reciprocal pronouns with their possessive forms by adding the apostrophe ‘s’ at the end of reciprocal pronouns, such as each other’s and one another’s (but not each others’ and one anothers’):

• Meera and Seena can wear each other’s bangles.
• Sports persons can wear one antoher’s clothes.

Use of Reciprocal Pronouns

In order to use reciprocal pronouns in the sentence, there must be the use of two or more people, things or groups performing same action.

We cannot use reciprocal pronouns with I, you, he, she, and it because reciprocal pronouns require multiple nouns and pronouns to share the feeling or action.

Examples of Reciprocal Pronoun

Following are the examples of reciprocal pronouns:

• Marry and Vivan has given golden rings to each other on their wedding day.
• They celebrate the ring ceremony by kissing each other at the end.
• Teachers were talking one another about the exam.
• Seema and Harry were laughing on each other in the school ground.
• Me and my friend has shared a gift to each other on new year.
• Seniors have congratulated one another on their farewell party.
• Many kids are playing in the ground by kicking the ball to one another.
• Customers are fighting to one another for a single product.

Exercises for you

We have provided below some exercises in order to help you to improve your knowledge about reciprocal pronoun. You need to get detail information about reciprocal pronoun provided above and check your skill by doing following exercises.

Choose the correct reciprocal pronouns from the following sentences given below and match with the given answer:

1. Rama and Suman support and admire each other.
2. My neighbors hate each other.
3. Those people were very angry and warning one another.
4. Both teams have won however commenting each other.
5. They have distributed gift to each other.
6. Why do they fight one another?
7. We can’t talk to each other.
8. My sisters love one another very much.
9. All the cars on road are hitting one another.
10. Duke and Dick say goodbye to each other daily when school becomes off.
11. Good students help one another during exam time.
12. They asked each other about their problems.
13. We share everything to each other without any problem.
14. We like to give surprises to each other at special events.
15. Doctors keep themselves in touch to one another to be up-to-date.
16. Dogs are barking by seeing each other.
17. Horses in the race are trying to win by defeating one another.
18. Geeta and Seeta have helped one another.
19. We sent invitation to each other for Christmas celebration.
20. They are very selfish and don’t help to one another.
21. They love each other very much.
22. Both of my friends hate each other.
23. Many prisoners were fighting to one another.
24. My both friends worked hard for exam against each other.
25. We gave a hug to each other.
26. They never believe each other.
27. Why gangsters fight one another.
28. Students were calling each other for help.
29. They are buying clothes to one another.
30. Why they never help each other.

Answers: 1 – each other, 2 – each other, 3 – one another, 4 – each other, 5 – each other, 6 – one another, 7 – each other, 8 – one another, 9 – one another, 10 – each other, 11 – one another, 12 – each other, 13 – each other, 14 – each other, 15 – one another, 16 – each other, 17 – one another, 18 – one another, 19 – each other, 20 – one another, 21 – each other, 22 – each other, 23 – one another, 24 – each other, 25 – each other, 26 – each other, 27 – one another, 28 – each other, 29 – one another, 30 – each other

Related Information:

Pronoun
Personal Pronoun
Possessive Pronoun
Compound Personal Pronoun
Demonstrative Pronoun
Indefinite Pronoun
Distributive Pronoun
Relative Pronoun
Interrogative Pronoun