ENGLISH
REFERENCE

someone else

compound.
A1 Beginner Oxford

compound. A different person; not you, and not the person we are talking about right now.

compound. An indefinite pronoun phrase referring to an unspecified person other than the one already mentioned, implied, or present.


SIMPLE

I think someone else should answer the phone.

CONTEXTUAL

If you don't want this last piece of cake, I'm sure someone else will eat it.

COMPLEX

She lived in constant fear that her husband would leave her for someone else, a worry that consumed her thoughts.

Usage

The possessive form is 'someone else's', with the 's' at the very end.

Teaching tip

Teach 'someone else', 'anyone else', and 'no one else' together as a set to establish the pattern of 'indefinite pronoun + else'.

Pitfall

This must be someone's else jacket.This must be someone else's jacket.The possessive marker 's' attaches to the end of the entire phrase 'someone else'.

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