Make “each other” explicit
Nora und Tuan fotografieren sich can mean that each photographs themself or that they photograph each other. Nora und Tuan fotografieren einander selects the reciprocal interpretation. A plural subject alone does not make a verb reciprocal: Die Gäste beeilen sich describes each guest hurrying.
Einander keeps one form for accusative and dative: Wir unterstützen einander; Wir helfen einander. When a preposition is needed, use compounds such as miteinander sprechen, aufeinander warten and füreinander kochen. The preposition comes from the intended relationship or the verb, not from a universal “each other” rule.
Check the construction in context
Choose your answer before opening the explanation. Check the whole phrase as well as the form.
7. Make “the two help each other” unambiguous using einander.
Die beiden helfen einander. The verb takes dative; einander has the same form here as in accusative constructions.
8. Replace “with each other” in Wir sprechen jeden Abend __.
Wir sprechen jeden Abend miteinander. The preposition mit joins einander in one word. Wir sprechen jeden Abend mit uns selbst would have a different, self-directed meaning.
Check the relationship before choosing einander
Ask whether the participants act towards one another or each acts only on themselves. Einander makes the reciprocal reading explicit; sich can be ambiguous in a plural sentence. Keep the case or preposition selected by the original construction. Einander has the same form for accusative and dative. With a preposition, write the combination as one word.
Two worked examples
Die beiden Nachbarinnen grüßen einander. Each greets the other. Einander fills the accusative position of grüßen.
Die beiden Teams lernen voneinander. Each team learns from the other. Von belongs to this meaning of lernen; von and einander form voneinander.
Apply the pattern
Additional check 1. Nora waits for Karim, and Karim waits for Nora. Combine with einander: Nora und Karim warten ___.
Nora und Karim warten aufeinander. Warten auf keeps auf. The reciprocal combination is written as one word.
Additional check 2. Jule helps Tim, and Tim helps Jule. Use einander in one sentence.
Jule und Tim helfen einander. Helfen requires dative. Einander does not gain a separate dative ending.
Additional check 3. Each person photographs only themselves, not anyone else. Can you replace sich selbst with einander while keeping that meaning?
No. Einander would state a reciprocal relationship. The explicit self-directed meaning requires sich selbst here.
Start with the topic overview
German reflexive pronouns: mich, mir and the verb pattern · Find another grammar topic
Questions about this topic
Can every reflexive verb use einander?
No. Einander requires a meaningful reciprocal relationship. Sich beeilen cannot be converted mechanically into an each-other action.
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