another
another — adjective
1. one additional example of a similar type, added on top of something that already
one additional example of a similar type, added on top of something that already exists or already happened.
Would you like another cup of tea before you leave the office?
polite offer: another + singular noun
The baby cried for another biscuit after finishing her first one.
The flight was delayed for another two hours because of heavy snow.
Hiro scored another goal in the second half against the city team.
Grandma baked another loaf of bread because the children ate the first.
文法句型
another + singular noun
another + number + plural noun (e.g. another two hours)
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 2: this sense ADDS to what is already there (one more of the same), while sense 2 REPLACES or contrasts with the first one. Pairs naturally with 'one more', 'an extra', 'a further'.
常見錯誤
2. not the same one already mentioned, but a separate item, location, or individual
not the same one already mentioned, but a separate item, location, or individual of similar type.
Citlali didn't like the red dress, so she tried another one in blue.
another + singular noun (a different one)
Let's meet at another cafe; this one is too noisy for our chat.
Hiro moved to another city after he finished college in Boston.
If this key doesn't work, please try another door near the back.
The teacher asked Kenji to give another example of a wild animal.
- different
stresses contrast more strongly; 'another' is neutral
- a separate
more formal; emphasises that the items are not connected
- the same
the identical one already mentioned
文法句型
another + singular noun
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: this sense means a DIFFERENT one (replacing or contrasting with the first), while sense 1 means an EXTRA one of the same kind added to what is already there.
常見錯誤
3. any one out of several possible options, when it does not matter exactly which o
any one out of several possible options, when it does not matter exactly which one is chosen.
If the bus is full, Sami can take another route home from school.
another = any of several alternatives
There must be another way to fix this old printer without buying a new one.
Dr. Hadiya suggested another treatment in case the first medicine fails.
We could meet on Monday, or another day next week works for me too.
- an alternative
more formal; often noun-like
- some other
near-equivalent; slightly more vague
文法句型
another + singular noun (unspecified alternative)
用法筆記
Often appears in conditional or hedging contexts ('if', 'in case', 'maybe', 'could'). The speaker is not naming a specific alternative, only signalling that options exist.
another — idiom
another — determiner / pronoun
1. an additional person, thing, or amount of something, on top of what already exis
an additional person, thing, or amount of something, on top of what already exists or has been mentioned.
Citlali finished her tea and asked the waiter for another cup.
another + singular countable noun
After two slices of pizza, Hiro quietly reached for another from the box.
We need another twenty minutes to finish painting the wall.
Kenji passed his exam, but his brother had to wait another year before retaking his.
The kettle is empty; could you boil another?
- one more
more explicit about the count; common in spoken English
- an additional
more formal; preferred in writing
- an extra
stresses that something is added beyond the expected amount
文法句型
another + singular noun
another + number + plural noun
用法筆記
Takes a singular countable noun directly (another book) but allows a plural noun when it follows a number or quantity (another three days, another few minutes).
常見錯誤
2. a person or thing that is not the same as the one already mentioned or chosen, o
a person or thing that is not the same as the one already mentioned or chosen, often used when picking an alternative.
Hiro disliked the blue shirt and asked the clerk to bring another.
pronoun: standing in for a different item
If this train is full, we can catch another from platform six.
The Watanabe family decided to look for another house after the noisy neighbours moved in.
Dr. Hadiya prescribed another medicine because the first one made Kenji drowsy.
- a different
spells out the contrast; clearer in writing
- an alternative
formal; suggests a deliberate replacement option
- the same
marks identity rather than difference
文法句型
another + singular noun
pronoun: choose another
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: this sense replaces the earlier item rather than adding to it. The context (rejection or comparison) signals the difference.
常見錯誤
3. someone or something that closely resembles a well-known person or thing, often
someone or something that closely resembles a well-known person or thing, often used to compare a newcomer to a famous example.
Critics are calling the young pianist another Mozart.
another + famous proper noun for comparison
The coach hopes Hiro will become another Messi on the school football team.
The new tech hub in the suburbs is being marketed as another Silicon Valley.
Kenji insists he is not another Picasso; he just enjoys painting on weekends.
文法句型
another + proper noun
be another + name/role
用法筆記
Always followed by a proper noun (a person, place, or brand the listener already knows). The comparison can be flattering or sceptical depending on tone.
常見錯誤
4. used in fixed phrases like 'one or another' to point at different kinds, ways, o
used in fixed phrases like 'one or another' to point at different kinds, ways, or members of a group without naming a specific one.
For one reason or another, Sami has missed every team meeting this month.
fixed phrase: for one reason or another
Most students struggle with maths in one way or another during high school.
fixed phrase: in one way or another
The villagers always celebrate the harvest with one festival or another.
Aunt Rosa keeps buying gifts for the children at one shop or another along the high street.
- some kind of
less formal; loses the 'or another' flexibility
- various
stresses plural kinds rather than picking one vague example
文法句型
one ... or another
in one way or another
用法筆記
Almost always follows the pattern 'one [noun] or another'. The speaker either does not know the exact one or feels it is not worth specifying.
常見錯誤
5. used with 'one' or in repeated phrases to describe a long, continuous series of
used with 'one' or in repeated phrases to describe a long, continuous series of people or things following each other.
Hiro answered one phone call after another for the entire afternoon.
one + noun + after + another for continuous sequence
The Watanabe family faced one setback and another during the move to Osaka.
Customers walked into the bakery one after another until the queue stretched onto the pavement.
Kenji solved one puzzle after another without stopping for tea.
- in succession
more formal; common in written reports
- back-to-back
informal; vivid for events that touch each other in time
文法句型
one ... after another
one ... and another
noun + after + another
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: sense 1 adds a single extra item, while this sense pictures an ongoing chain. The 'after' or repeated 'and' is the key signal.
常見錯誤
another — determiner
1. used to mean an extra one, in addition to those that already exist or that someo
used to mean an extra one, in addition to those that already exist or that someone already has.
Citlali finished her coffee and quietly ordered another cup.
another + singular noun
The Watanabe family stayed in Kyoto for another three days.
another + number + plural noun
Could I have another slice of cake, please, Grandma?
Hiro invited another friend to join the road trip on Saturday.
There is another email from the bank waiting in your inbox.
- one more
very close in meaning; often interchangeable in spoken English
- an additional
more formal; common in writing and reports
- a further
formal, often used with time periods or amounts
文法句型
another + singular noun
another + number + plural noun
用法筆記
Only sense that combines with a number to mean 'an additional set of': 'another two weeks' = two more weeks. Distinguish from sense 3 (DIFFERENT), where 'another' replaces, not adds.
常見錯誤
2. used in patterns like 'one X after another' to describe a long series of similar
used in patterns like 'one X after another' to describe a long series of similar events or things happening in sequence.
Kenji sent one email after another but got no reply from the office.
pattern: one + noun + after another
The farmer watched one storm after another roll across the fields that summer.
Sami faced one setback after another while building his small bakery.
Reporters asked one question after another at the long press conference.
The children opened one present after another on Christmas morning.
- successive
more formal adjective form for the same idea
- a string of
common informal alternative for negative events
文法句型
one + noun + after another
another + singular noun
用法筆記
Almost always appears in the fixed pattern 'one + [singular noun] + after another'. The noun is repeated only as 'another' in the second slot, not as the full noun.
常見錯誤
3. used to refer to a different one, not the same one as before — for example, choo
used to refer to a different one, not the same one as before — for example, choosing a different shirt, café, or day from the one first mentioned.
This shirt is too small; could you bring me another size, please?
another = a different one
Hiro did not like the hotel, so the family moved to another place.
Let's meet on another day, because Tuesday is already very busy.
If this key does not work, try another one from the drawer.
The teacher asked Kenji to choose another book from the library shelf.
- a different
stronger contrast; emphasises that it is not the same
- some other
vaguer; the speaker does not have a specific one in mind
- the same
directly opposite when contrasting identity
文法句型
another + singular noun
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 (ONE MORE): sense 1 adds to the existing one; sense 3 replaces it. 'Another coffee' often means one more cup (sense 1); 'another café' usually means a different café (sense 3). Context decides.
常見錯誤
4. in the phrase 'one another', used to show that the people or things in a group d
in the phrase 'one another', used to show that the people or things in a group do the same thing to or for the others in that group.
The two sisters write to one another every week from different cities.
verb + one another
Members of the choir support one another during difficult rehearsals.
After the long flight, the players smiled and hugged one another warmly.
Good neighbours often help one another with small tasks around the house.
The classmates exchanged gifts with one another on the last day of school.
- each other
more common in everyday speech; same meaning
文法句型
one another
verb + one another
用法筆記
Used interchangeably with 'each other' in modern English. Some older style guides prefer 'one another' for groups of three or more, but this rule is no longer strictly followed in everyday writing.
常見錯誤
5. used in fixed phrases such as 'one way or another' to mean by some method, for s
used in fixed phrases such as 'one way or another' to mean by some method, for some reason, or at some time, without saying which one exactly.
One way or another, Sami always finds the money to pay his rent.
fixed phrase: one way or another
For one reason or another, Citlali never sent the postcard from Lisbon.
fixed phrase: for one reason or another
Sooner or later, in one form or another, the truth usually comes out.
At one time or another, most of my classmates have borrowed money from Hiro.
All these new gadgets are useful in one way or another, even if they look strange.
- somehow
rough single-word equivalent of 'one way or another'
- for some reason
close to 'for one reason or another' but slightly more direct
文法句型
in one way or another
for one reason or another
用法筆記
Almost always appears in the closed set of phrases: 'one way or another', 'for one reason or another', 'at one time or another', 'in one form or another'. Outside these, this vague-reference use is rare.
常見錯誤
another — pronoun
1. an extra item or person of the same type as the one you already have or just men
an extra item or person of the same type as the one you already have or just mentioned.
Citlali finished her cookie and quietly asked Grandma for another.
object position: ask for another
These mangoes are so sweet — I think I'll have another.
have + another for one more of the same
Hiro polished off his beer and quickly ordered another at the bar.
If one umbrella breaks in the wind, Sami always carries another in his bag.
The puppy ate one biscuit and begged for another.
文法句型
have / want / take + another
用法筆記
Refers back to a noun already named in the sentence or context; the listener must know what kind of thing is meant.
常見錯誤
2. a person or thing that is not the one mentioned first, but a different example o
a person or thing that is not the one mentioned first, but a different example of the same kind.
This shirt is too tight; let me try another from the rack.
try + another (different one)
Kenji did not like the blue paint, so he chose another at the store.
If this key does not open the gate, please test another.
One road leads to the lake; another goes up the mountain.
The first plan failed, so the team quickly proposed another.
- a different one
more explicit when contrast matters
- the other
use when only two items exist; 'another' suggests more options
- the same one
points back to the original item
文法句型
pick / choose / try + another
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: here the focus is on being a DIFFERENT example, not an additional one. Often pairs with 'one … another'.
常見錯誤
3. any one item from a wider, unspecified group, when you do not need to say exactl
any one item from a wider, unspecified group, when you do not need to say exactly which one.
The library has hundreds of mystery novels; Mia grabbed another for the train ride.
another from a large group
Volunteers kept arriving at the shelter, and another stepped in to help cook dinner.
Out of the many old photos in the box, Grandpa picked another to show us.
Stars filled the sky, and every few minutes another shot across it.
The crowd cheered as another of the marathon runners crossed the finish line.
- one
neutral, but loses the sense of 'yet one more from the group'
- some other
broader and vaguer; 'another' picks one specific member
文法句型
another + of + plural noun phrase
用法筆記
Subject is typically drawn from a large or open-ended set. Often takes the structure 'another of [the/his/these] + plural noun'.