Anaphor

Question

Hello. I'm now studying English anaphors. Would you please teach me if the following sentences are grammatical?

Because I'm not a native speaker of English, it would be great if you native speakers tell me your intuition.

Thanks for your help.

(1) Mary wanted herself to be more beautiful in the dress.
(2) Mary remembered herself standing in the rain.

(3) John and Mary wanted each other to attend the meeting.
(4) John and Mary remembered each other attending the meeting.

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

I would not say any of those. I indicated how I would say them in blue.

(1) Mary wanted herself to be more beautiful in the dress.

Mary wanted to be more beautiful in the dress.

(2) Mary remembered herself standing in the rain.

Mary remembered standing in the rain.

(3) John and Mary wanted each other to attend the meeting.

John and Mary each wanted the other to attend the meeting.

(4) John and Mary remembered each other attending the meeting.

John and Mary each remembered the other attending the meeting.

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

Thank you for your kind reply! I understand that we cannot use anaphors like that.

Could you please provide more information about this, if you have time enough?

I'd like to know if we can say "Mary saw herself stand/standing in the mirror."

CalifJim · Answer

AnonymousI'd like to know if we can say "Mary saw herself stand/standing in the mirror."

Most people say, "Mary saw herself in the mirror". No "stand" or "standing".

You can put "standing" at the beginning, though, like this: "Standing in front of the mirror, Mary saw herself". But that's not as brief and to the point as my earlier suggestion.

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

I appreciate your support and help so much!  I've heard that the participial construction is much preferred in a literary writing, as is true of this case.  Thank you.

Anaphor

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