The principal advised all the students to be of help to …

Analyze the question

The sentence is: "The principal advised all the students to be of help to __." We need the word or phrase that correctly completes it. This tests reciprocal pronouns.

Explain the concept

• "One another" and "each other" are reciprocal pronouns. They show that members of a group act on or help each other mutually.
• Traditionally, "each other" is used for two people and "one another" for more than two. This is a common rule in WASSCE and JAMB English.
• "Themselves" is a reflexive pronoun, meaning each person helps himself or herself. That is not the meaning intended here.
• "One other" and "the other" are not idiomatic here. "The other" points to one specific remaining person or thing, and "one other" is incomplete.

Step-by-step solution

1. The subject is "all the students", which is a group of more than two people.
2. The principal wants them to help each member of the group, so the meaning is mutual help.
3. Mutual action among more than two people takes "one another".
4. Check: "The principal advised all the students to be of help to one another." The sentence is grammatically correct and its meaning is clear.

Eliminating the wrong options

• A. one other: not a standard reciprocal expression.
• B. themselves: reflexive, so it would mean helping oneself.
• C. the other: refers to a single specific person, which doesn't fit a whole group.
• D. one another: correct reciprocal pronoun for a group.

Tip

When you see a group of people helping, respecting, or loving each other, think of a reciprocal pronoun. Use each other for two and one another for three or more. Be careful not to choose "themselves", which is a common trap.