English Language Discussion Forums

Taka · #1 13-May-2004, 06:50

Compare:

(a) I myself saw the accident.
(b) I saw the accident myself.

I think (a) and (b) are semantically the same. Then, is it possibe to say for the same meaning "(c) I saw myself the accident."? (c) is a bit confusing, but, in my opinion, it's possible.

Taka

HotWombat · #2 13-May-2004, 07:35

I saw the accident.

This is all you need to say. You have already indicated who saw the accident so there is no need to include the word 'myself'

**Tdol** · #3 13-May-2004, 08:51

I don't like version c). The other two are fine if you have to emphasise your seeing the accident. If not, then there is no need to use 'myself'. Version b) is more likely to be the one used is casual speech.

Taka · #4 13-May-2004, 11:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdol

I don't like version c).

Is it a matter of your preference? Or can we say that (c) is grammatically wrong and it does not make any sense?

**Tdol** · #5 13-May-2004, 15:46

It's wrong because it doesn't make sense- the position suggests that it is what you saw- I saw myself- and this doesn't connect with the accident.

Taka · #6 13-May-2004, 16:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdol

It's wrong because it doesn't make sense- the position suggests that it is what you saw- I saw myself- and this doesn't connect with the accident.

Then, what about this one?

I saw myself the next car back.

http://www.oldielyrics.com/lyrics/ja...affic_jam.html

twostep · #7 13-May-2004, 20:29

I saw myself the next car back.

It does not make any sense to me.
Are you trying to say - I saw the car behind me?

**Tdol** · #8 13-May-2004, 23:20

They took a lot of drugs in the sixties. I must confess, the meaning escapes me.

MikeNewYork · #9 14-May-2004, 00:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by HotWombat

I saw the accident.

This is all you need to say. You have already indicated who saw the accident so there is no need to include the word 'myself'

That is technically correct, but the reflexive pronoun is often used to provide emphasis. :wink:

MikeNewYork · #10 14-May-2004, 00:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taka

Compare:

(a) I myself saw the accident.
(b) I saw the accident myself.

I think (a) and (b) are semantically the same. Then, is it possibe to say for the same meaning "(c) I saw myself the accident."? (c) is a bit confusing, but, in my opinion, it's possible.

Taka

I agree with TDOL that c is unacceptable. As soon as one comes to "myself" after "saw" one expects the sentence to be about an image of the speaker.