Each Other vs Themselves
B1 Level
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Compare The friends hugged each other with The students introduced themselves. In the first sentence, each friend hugs the other person. In the second, each student says their own name to the teacher. The sentences include verbs such as phone, help, look at, congratulate, contradict, prepare, serve, and dry. The verb alone is not enough; the context tells you whether the action is mutual or self-directed. This distinction changes the meaning of the whole sentence, especially with plural subjects. Draw a quick mental arrow: across the group means each other; back to each person means themselves.
Quick Rule
each other = mutual action; themselves/ourselves = action to own self
- 1.The two friends hugged each other at the airport.
- 2.The students did not introduce each other to the teacher.
- 3.My sister and I phone each other every Sunday.
- 4.The runners pushed themselves to finish the marathon.
- 5.The guests served themselves from the buffet.
All 20 questions
Choose between 'each other' (reciprocal: A ↔ B) or the correct reflexive pronoun (each person acts on him/herself).
The two friends hugged _____ when they met at the airport. (each other / themselves)
The students introduced _____ to the teacher one by one. (each other / themselves)
My sister and I phone _____ every Sunday evening. (each other / ourselves)
The players told _____ they needed to train harder after losing the match. (each other / themselves)
The new employees prepared _____ for their first day at work. (each other / themselves)
The couple looked at _____ and smiled during the wedding ceremony. (each other / themselves)
The children taught _____ to ride a bicycle without any adult help. (each other / themselves)
My neighbour and I always help _____ with gardening at weekends. (each other / ourselves)
The twins dressed _____ in matching outfits for the school photo. (each other / themselves)
The two business partners emailed _____ several times during the negotiations. (each other / themselves)
The runners pushed _____ to finish the marathon despite the terrible weather. (each other / themselves)
After the argument, my brother and I didn't speak to _____ for a week. (each other / ourselves)
The actors prepared _____ backstage before the opening night performance. (each other / themselves)
The new students kept to _____ during the first week at university. (each other / themselves)
The two teams congratulated _____ after a hard-fought final. (each other / themselves)
After the earthquake, the neighbours helped _____ clear the debris from the street. (each other / themselves)
The guests served _____ from the buffet table at the reception. (each other / themselves)
The pen pals wrote to _____ every month for over ten years. (each other / themselves)
The witnesses contradicted _____ during the police investigation. (each other / themselves)
After the long hike, the walkers dried _____ by the campfire. (each other / themselves)
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