①Some students like English and other students (others) like physics.
有些学生喜欢英语,有些学生喜欢物理。
【解析】other表示“别的”,“另外的”,只能与复数名词连用。但other前有冠词the即可与单数名词连用。如:
I have two pens. One is blue. The other (pen) is black.
我有两枝钢笔。一支是蓝色的,另一支是黑色的。
②John did better than all the other players in the sport.
在那项运动中John比所有别的运动员都出色。
【解析】the other加复数名词指的是一定范围内“所有其余的人或事物”,是特指;而other加复数名词却是没有明确范围的“另外的人或事物”。如:
We must think more of other comrades.
我们必须多想想别的同志。
③This shirt is too large for me. Please show me another.
这件衬衫我穿太大。请另外拿一件我看看。(一般商店不会只有两件衬衫)
【解析】another, the other作代词的用法。The other表示“两个数量中的另一个”,表示特指,总数为俩;another表示“总数为三个以上中任意的另一个”,表示泛指。如:
His parents both work in a hospital. One is a doctor and the other is a nurse.
他父母都在一家医院工作。一个是医生,一个是护士。(父母为两个人)
其他习惯用法:one another, from one…to another, the other day = a few days ago,every other
这些不定代词不仅在含义上有单复数之分,而且在用法上有泛指(无the)和特指(有the)之别。
(1)指单数:若泛指用another,若特指用the other。如:
Have another piece of chocolate. 再吃一块巧克力糖吧。
He killed the other man in a fight. 他在搏斗中杀死了对手。
(2)指复数:若泛指用other(后接复数名词),若特指用the other(后接复数名词)。如:
Other boys were arriving now. 其他男孩马上也要到了。
She zigzagged her way through the other guests. 她从其他客人中间穿过。