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Prepositions after adjectives

Other with prepositions

Other is rarely followed directly by a fixed preposition. Most combinations depend on the noun or phrase that comes after it, such as other than or other people in the group.

Quick answer

How is other used with prepositions?

Other does not usually take a fixed preposition. Expressions like other than are standard. In phrases such as other people in the room, the preposition belongs to the following noun phrase, not to other itself.

other than coffee
We met other people in the village
She works with people other than her relatives

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
other than + noun/phrase

Showing an exception

Other than introduces an exception or exclusion.

other than weekends
I do not eat anything other than fruit at breakfast
2
other + noun + in + place/group

Referring to people or things inside a group

The preposition in belongs to the noun phrase after other.

the other students in my class
other houses in the area
3
other + noun + with + noun

Describing association or company

With describes connection or accompaniment after the noun.

other employees with technical skills
other travellers with children
4
other + noun + of + group

Showing membership in a larger set

Of commonly follows the noun after other.

other members of the committee
other parts of the report

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
other in
other people in the office
In refers to the location of the noun phrase, not a fixed combination with other.
other for
a solution for other users
For belongs to the noun or purpose expression after other.
other on
advice from other books on gardening
On belongs to the topic noun phrase, not directly to other.
other with
other students with laptops
With describes the noun after other.
other of
other members of the team
Of links the noun to a larger group.
other than
No other than Maria called me.
Standard fixed expression meaning except or surprisingly the same person.

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Treating other as if it selects a preposition

Prepositions like in or with usually belong to the following noun phrase.

✕ other with the team ✓ other people with the team

Using other than incorrectly with plural meaning

Use others for a plural pronoun.

✕ Other than agreed. ✓ Others agreed.

Confusing other and another

Another is used with singular countable nouns.

✕ other idea ✓ another idea

Omitting than after exclusion

Use than after other when you mean except.

✕ No other coffee is available. ✓ No other than coffee is available.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. No one ___ the manager knew about the change.
2. We spoke to other people ___ the conference hall.
3. She compared her work with other examples ___ the book.

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Frequently asked questions

Is other than formal or informal?

It is standard in both formal and informal English.

Can other be followed directly by in or with?

Usually the preposition belongs to the noun phrase after other, not to other itself.

What is the difference between other and others?

Other is usually an adjective before a noun, while others is a pronoun used without a following noun.

obedient-to-unto-in-by, of "objective in" or "objective about"? "obligatory for" or "obligatory on"? "oblivious to" or "oblivious of"? observable in, by, from, to or on? obsessed with, by, about, in or over? obsessive about, in, over, with or to? "obsolete in" or "obsolete by"? "obtainable in" or "obtainable from"? "obvious to", "obvious from" or "obvious in"? odd to, for, about, in or on? offensive to, in, against, on or about?

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