Re: a question about reflexive pronouns

Ray wrote:
Mr. Jaggers wrote:
"Ray" <raymondaliasapollyon@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Hi,

I'd like to invite the native speakers of *American English* among you
to examine the following sentence and tell me if it is correct: (I'm
doing an experiment, so I only want opinions from speakers of American
English.)

1. John thinks it pleased himself a lot to see Bill die.


Do you think "himself" sounds correct here?

I'll appreciate your help.

Ray

I would avoid the reflexive entirely by writing, "John was pleased to
see..."

I deliberately wrote it that way simply to test how speakers of
American English feel about "himself" in that position. Would it sound
better to you to use "him" instead?

I think "him" would be worse, as we wouldn't know to whom it was
meant to refer. The sentence is awkward, but I don't think that
"himself" is the problem. I wouldn't think twice about, "John
was pleased with himself for arranging Bill's death." Either
John was pleased or he wasn't. But just to cater to the odd
concept, you could write, "John thought he was pleased to see
Bill die."

It was tough in solitary. John wanted revenge. John wanted to
see Bill die, and with those thoughts he pleased himself.

That's about as close to the construct you had as I could come
and it's still forced and a bit awkward. Do I get a piece of
cheese now?

--Jeff

--
"The fetters imposed on liberty at home have
ever been forged out of the weapons provided
for defence against real, pretended, or
imaginary dangers from abroad."
James Madison
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: reflexive pronouns in American English
    ... I'd like to invite the native speakers of *American English* among you ... John lost his memory in an accident. ... lot to himself see Bill die. ...
    (sci.lang)
  • Re: a question about reflexive pronouns
    ... I'd like to invite the native speakers of *American English* among you ... John thinks it pleased himself a lot to see Bill die. ... American English feel about "himself" in that position. ...
    (alt.usage.english)
  • Re: a question about reflexive pronouns
    ... I'd like to invite the native speakers of *American English* among you ... John thinks it pleased himself a lot to see Bill die. ... OK, I'm not a speaker of American English, but I don't think this is the type of sentence where there would be a difference between AmE and BrE anyway. ...
    (alt.usage.english)
  • Re: a question about reflexive pronouns
    ... I'd like to invite the native speakers of *American English* among you ... John thinks it pleased himself a lot to see Bill die. ... Mr. Jaggers ...
    (alt.usage.english)
  • Re: a question about reflexive pronouns
    ... I'd like to invite the native speakers of *American English* among you ... John thinks it pleased himself a lot to see Bill die. ... American English feel about "himself" in that position. ...
    (alt.usage.english)
Loading