alius / alter (Another, The Other)

Another and the Other

Level 4

Use alius for another among many and alter for the other of two.

How It Works

Case	alius	alia	aliud	alter	altera	alterum
nominative	alius	alia	aliud	alter	altera	alterum
accusative	alium	aliam	aliud	alterum	alteram	alterum

Both words change in the genitive and the dative like the nine adjectives in the next entry. The genitive of alter is alterius and the dative is alteri. For alius, the dative is alii, and the genitive is usually borrowed from alter: alterius.

With two things, use alter ... alter. With many, use alius ... alius or alii ... alii. Neuter aliud ends in -d, like illud.

Examples (5)

Alter frater Romae habitat, alter Athenis.
One brother lives in Rome, the other in Athens.
Alter ... alter means the one ... the other of two.
Alii pueri legunt, alii ludunt.
Some boys read, others play.
Alii ... alii means some ... others, from many.
Alium librum habeo.
I have another book.
Alium agrees with librum.
Alter alterius onera portate.
Carry one another's burdens.
From Galatians 6:2. Alterius is the genitive of alter.
Et alium Paraclitum dabit vobis.
And he will give you another Advocate.
From John 14:16. Alium is the accusative of alius.

Common Mistakes

Using a dative form for the genitive.
Liber alteri fratris est.
Liber alterius fratris est.
Alteri is the dative. To say of the other brother, the genitive alterius agrees with fratris.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

alius / alter (Another, The Other)Level 4Another and the Other

Learn This First

Alius and alter are two of the nine adjectives with their own genitive.

Nine Adjectives With -ius: unus, nullus, totus
Know the nine adjectives, because alius and alter are two of them.
Level 4

Words in This Pattern

aliusalter

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