unu la alian
Each Other
Unu la alia names the doers first and the receivers second.
How It Works
| Sentence | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Ni helpas unu la alian. | We help each other. |
| Ili donas florojn unu al la alia. | They give each other flowers. |
| Ili parolas unu kun la alia. | They talk with each other. |
The pattern is a short way to say a longer idea. Ili amas unu la alian means that each of them loves each of the others. The first part names the one who acts. The second part is the object or follows a preposition, so only an object takes -n.
In this pattern unu never takes -n, and it almost always stays without -j, even when many people are involved. Do not add sin, because Ili amas unu la alian already says it all. Another way to say some of these ideas is inter si: Ili parolas inter si.
Examples (5)
- Ewa kaj Kenji helpas unu la alian.
Ewa and Kenji help each other.
La alian is the object of helpas, so it has -n.
- La gastoj parolas unu kun la alia pri la vojaĝo.
The guests talk with each other about the trip.
After kun, la alia keeps the plain form.
- Ni skribas leterojn unu al la alia.
We write letters to each other.
After al, la alia has no -n.
- Ahmed kaj Omar ĝojas, ke ili vidas unu la alian.
Ahmed and Omar are glad that they see each other.
La alian is the object of vidas inside the ke clause.
- Priya kaj Raj ne konas unu la alian, sed ili ŝatas la samajn librojn.
Priya and Raj do not know each other, but they like the same books.
La alian is the object of konas.
Common Mistakes
Adding sin to unu la alian.
Ili amas sin unu la alian.Ili amas unu la alian.Unu la alian already means each other, so sin is left out.
Leaving -n off la alian when it is the object.
Ni helpas unu la alia.Ni helpas unu la alian.La alian is the object of helpas, so it takes -n. After a preposition, as in unu kun la alia, it has none.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Each other is told with unu la alian, not with si.
Related Patterns
Practice unu la alian in Bubblegum
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