TOEIC® Part 5 Anchor Drill

Another vs Other: Choose by One More or Different

This drill trains you to check the noun pattern before choosing. Decide whether the sentence means one more single countable item, or different, additional, or remaining items.

One more single countable item = another
Different, additional, or remaining item or items = other

Choose another

Use another before one singular countable noun: another copy, another meeting, another option, or another appointment.

Choose other

Use other before plural or uncountable nouns, or in the other + singular noun when the sentence identifies the remaining one of two.

How to find the anchor

Look immediately after the blank. The noun pattern usually makes the decision: singular, plural, uncountable, or the remaining item in a defined pair.

Another signals: a singular countable noun such as copy, meeting, week, refund, or review.
Other signals: plural nouns, uncountable nouns, any other + plural noun, or a sentence that first establishes two alternatives.

We need ___ copy of the contract for our records.

Answer: another

copy is a singular countable noun. The sentence means one more single copy.

The company is reviewing ___ options before making a decision.

Answer: other

options is plural. The sentence refers to different or additional options as a group.

The answer choices are another and other. Tap the controlling anchor before choosing.

After the drill

What your result reveals

Your score shows whether you checked the noun pattern before choosing. Use the Review to identify whether the sentence required one more single item, different or additional items, or the remaining item in a defined pair.

If another caused problems

Check for one singular countable noun after the blank. The sentence should mean one more copy, meeting, week, appointment, refund, or similar item.

If other caused problems

Check for plural or uncountable nouns, any other, or a sentence that clearly establishes two alternatives before identifying the remaining one.

If false anchors or timing caused problems

You may be choosing from general meaning instead of checking the noun directly after the blank and the determiner immediately before it.

Use the Review in this order: check the correct answer, locate the controlling noun pattern, read why number or countability matters, then compare the completed sentence with the rejected choice.