Watch it for yourself?

[Ashraful Haque]

An IELTS question asked to talk about books and movies. While answering it I said the following:

"On the one hand, books let you imagine the entire story, the characters, the environment for yourself."

I'm not sure about 'for yourself' here. I meant to say that the reader personally imagines it. I think I've heard sentences like:
1) See for yourself.
2) Go kill the rat for yourself.

I think 'for yourself' here doesn't mean for your own sake. It means 'go see it with your own eyes.'

 

[jutfrank]

Yes, that's good. It means what you want it to mean.

 

[Tarheel]

I would say:

Kill the rat yourself.

 

[Tdol]

Or see it through your own eyes.

 

[jutfrank]

2) Go kill the rat for yourself.

It's hard to imagine this being used used correctly. I think you might mean what Tarheel suggests: Go kill the rat yourself.

If so, that's obviously not a use of for yourself in the sense you're asking about.

 

[Ashraful Haque]

It's hard to imagine this being used used correctly. I think you might mean what Tarheel suggests: Go kill the rat yourself.

If so, that's obviously not a use of for yourself in the sense you're asking about.

What's the difference between "books let you imagine the entire story, the characters, the environment for yourself" and "kill the rat yourself?"

I know that "Go kill the rat yourself" means that the person being addressed should kill the rat himself not someone else.

 

[Tarheel]

What's the difference between "Books let you imagine the entire story, the characters, the environment for yourself" and "Kill the rat yourself"?

I know that "Go kill the rat yourself" means that the person being addressed should kill the rat himself not someone else.

Well, the first sentence compares reading a book to watching a movie. The second sentence says (in effect), "You do it!" (Not somebody else.)

Kill the rat and not a person. Then admonish the cat for not doing its job.
;-)

 

[Ashraful Haque]

Well, the first sentence compares reading a book to watching a movie. The second sentence says (in effect), "You do it!" (Not somebody else.)

Kill the rat and not a person. Then admonish the cat for not doing its job.
;-)

In this context:
For yourself= You are the one who experiences it/sees it with your own eyes.
Yourself= you carry it out.

Let me know if I understand it.

 

[Tarheel]

I think you've got it, but I could be more sure if I had complete sentences to look at.

 

[Tarheel]

I know that "Go kill the rat yourself" means that the person being addressed should kill the rat himself not someone else.

He should kill the rat--him and not somebody else. (The sentence as phrased seems to say that he should kill the rat instead of a person.)

 

[emsr2d2]

An IELTS question asked students/me/us to talk about books and movies. While answering it, I said the following:

Note my corrections above. It's more natural to say "In my answer, I said ...", rather than "While answering it". Your version makes it sound as if, while you were writing your answer, you spoke aloud.

 

[Ashraful Haque]

Note my corrections above. It's more natural to say "In my answer, I said ...", rather than "While answering it". Your version makes it sound as if, while you were writing your answer, you spoke aloud.

I see. I'll keep this in mind.

 

[Ashraful Haque]

I think you've got it, but I could be more sure if I had complete sentences to look at.

For yourself= You are the one who experiences it/sees it with your own eyes.
1) If you don't trust me go see it for yourself.
2) Don't fall for the bad reviews. Come over to my place at three and play the game for yourself.


Yourself= you carry it out.
1) I made this dress myself with a little help from Maria.
2) I don't trust autonomous cars yet. Drive the car yourself.