Multiple choice

Directions: This question presents a sentence, all or part of which is underlined. Beneath the sentence you will find five ways of phrasing the underlined part. The first of these repeats the original; the other four are different. If you think the original is best, choose the first answer; otherwise choose one of the others.

All of them helped each other when the earthquake devastated the town.

  1. All of them helped each other when the earthquake devastated the town.

  2. They helped each other when the earthquake devastated the town.

  3. All of them helped one another when the earthquake devastated the town.

  4. They helped one another when the earthquake devastated the town.

  5. All of them helped others when the earthquake devastated the town.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Explanation for (1): Pronoun error. ‘Each other’ is used for two people only; hence, it has been used incorrectly here. ‘One another’ refers to more people and therefore it is correct.

Explanation for (2): The option compounds the error of pronoun usage by adding the error of omission of emphasis on ‘all’.

Justification for (3): ‘Each other’ is used for two people only; hence, it has been used incorrectly here. ‘One another’ refers to more people and therefore it is correct.
Explanation for (4): The option commits the error of omission of emphasis on ‘all’. Explanation for (5): This changes the meaning of the sentence.

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