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Anonymous Posted 15 years ago
Essay & Composition Writing
Is this sentence ok for an english 2 Essay?
Lacking evidence, the police spent almost 8 hours prompting Misskelley, a mentally challenged teenager, to make a statement incriminating two innocent teens and himself in the murders.
* I wasn't sure about the way I started it, and word keeps underlining "himself" wanting me to change it to "him"
Help please?!
* I wasn't sure about the way I started it, and word keeps underlining "himself" wanting me to change it to "him"
Help please?!
Top answer
" Reflexive: He looked at himself in the mirror. ) Not reflexive: He looked at him in the mirror. ) Reflexive The policeman incriminated himself.
- " Reflexive: He looked at himself in the mirror.
- ) Not reflexive: He looked at him in the mirror.
- ) Reflexive The policeman incriminated himself.
- The policeman proved that he (the same policeman) was guilty!
- You can "plead the fifth" to avoid testifying against yourself.
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4 Answers
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Anonymous* I wasn't sure about the way I started it, and word keeps underlining "himself" wanting me to change it to "him"There is no reflexive context (the subject and object referring to the same person or persons) in this sentence, that's why "him" is suggested to replace "himself."
Reflexive:
He looked at himself in the mirror. (He look
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Sorry, but I have to disagree if I understand what you've said, AS. In the sentence, the police want the teenager to incriminate himself (and two others). This seems to me the perfect use of the reflexive.
Ah, I see: it is 'statement' that gets in the way grammatically, isn't it? Still, I think that notional reflexivity dominates over the grammar here.
Ah, I see: it is 'statement' that gets in the way grammatically, isn't it? Still, I think that notional reflexivity dominates over the grammar here.
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Mister MicawberSorry, but I have to disagree if I understand what you've said, AS. In the sentence, the police want the teenager to incriminate himself (and two others). This seems to me the perfect use of the reflexive.MrM - I didn't read it carefully enough. I change my position and agree with you. But the automatic grammar checker probably make the same i
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But the automatic grammar checker probably make the same incorrect assessment as I did!-- I agree that it is a subtle difference. Mine is just a gut reaction, not that of a careful grammarian.
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