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Gene93 Posted 11 years ago
Vocabulary
turn yourself over/turn over
Hello,
I think that "Turn/Flip/Roll over so I can massage your back" sounds okay, but some people say "Turn yourself over so I can massage your back". Which one sounds better? The verb is intransitive in this sense and therefore, the first version should sound better. That's what Macmillan Dictionary says.
I think that "Turn/Flip/Roll over so I can massage your back" sounds okay, but some people say "Turn yourself over so I can massage your back". Which one sounds better? The verb is intransitive in this sense and therefore, the first version should sound better. That's what Macmillan Dictionary says.
Top answer
Dear Gene "Turn over" has the same meaning when used either transitively or intransitively. It would be wrong or at least very strange to say : "the car turned itself over in the crash". Itself is redundant.
- Dear Gene "Turn over" has the same meaning when used either transitively or intransitively.
- It would be wrong or at least very strange to say : "the car turned itself over in the crash".
- Itself is redundant.
- However, for the human body, both versions are equally OK, in my view.
- With "yourself", perhaps you could look at the situation as the person as distinct from his body making the decision to "turn himself / herself over".
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6 Answers
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Dear Gene
"Turn over" has the same meaning when used either transitively or intransitively.
It would be wrong or at least very strange to say : "the car turned itself over in the crash". Itself is redundant.
However, for the human body, both versions are equally OK, in my view. With "yourself", perhaps you could look at the situation as the person as distinct from his
"Turn over" has the same meaning when used either transitively or intransitively.
It would be wrong or at least very strange to say : "the car turned itself over in the crash". Itself is redundant.
However, for the human body, both versions are equally OK, in my view. With "yourself", perhaps you could look at the situation as the person as distinct from his
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Of course it does, Mr Chambers. Thank you. Your other example reminded me of something. A few months ago I had a conversation with a friend of mine, who is a native speaker. I was describing a car accident and I used "turn over" in collocation with "vehicle". My friend told me that vehicles usually "overturn", they don't turn over. Seeing "turn over" used in absolutely the same context makes me th
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Thank you Gene. Yes, "overturn" is better for a car but I think only when there is one turn. See the definition at Oxford which includes "come to rest".
http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/overturn
"turn over" is a possible alternative to "overturn" and I think
http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/overturn
"turn over" is a possible alternative to "overturn" and I think
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I found "The car skidded and turned over". Unfortunately, the dictionary doesn't say how many times the car did it. Once, twice, thrice, etc. I see it is used in collocation with "engine" more often.
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"Turned over" and "overturned" are both OK for one turn. I think "overturned" is slightly better. More than one turn - it has to be "turn over".
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