Themselves or itself?

Question

hello everyone , I met with a question when reading different texts .They're listed as follows

The Ocean Cleanup will use a 100 km-long floating barrier to let the ocean currents concentrate the plastic themselves
(Pacific cleanup sets sail

23 Apr 2015 Maritime Journal)

The Ocean Cleanup uses long floating barriers to let the ocean currents concentrate the plastic itself.(linkedin.com)
I wonder whether I should use themselves or itself . I prefer themselves but during a recent exam the answer gave me itself(I am from China)

Teechr · Accepted Answer

Neither "themselves" nor "itself" should be used in those sentences!

AlpheccaStars · Answer

Welcome to EnglishForward.

Actually, I would be on your side.

1. The Ocean Cleanup will use a 100 km-long floating barrier to let the ocean currents concentrate the plastic themselves.
"themselves" refers to "currents," and it makes sense to say that the project will not be guided or controlled by any other mechanism.
The ocean currents (by themselves ) will concentrate the plastic.

2. The Ocean Cleanup uses long floating barriers to let the ocean currents concentrate the plastic itself.
In the infinitive clause, "itself" must refer to "plastic" since that is the only singular noun in the clause.
"Itself" does not add much to the meaning, except maybe the idea that the plastic will be distinguished from other materials in the water.

Actually, given the choice of having or not having a reflexive pronoun, I would omit it.

Teechr · Answer

AlpheccaStars"themselves" refers to "currents," and it makes sense to say that the project will not be guided or controlled by any other mechanism.

Good point, but that's not the best way to phrase it. I would prefer:
"... floating barrier to let the ocean currents themselves concentrate the plastic."

叶可禅 · Answer

thank you!

Themselves or itself?

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