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Anonymous Posted 12 years ago
Grammar

Which of the 3 are natural?

Is 3 the same as the rest and which are natural?
Some cats let themselves die.
Some cats leave themselves to die.
Some cats starve themselves to death.

Thanks
  

Top answer

(2) does not seem very natural to me. (1) seems more natural English but slightly vague about the reason for what is being described. (3) is natural, and, unlike the other two, is specific about the cause of death.

— GPY

  • (2) does not seem very natural to me.
  • (1) seems more natural English but slightly vague about the reason for what is being described.
  • (3) is natural, and, unlike the other two, is specific about the cause of death.
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9 Answers
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(2) does not seem very natural to me.

(1) seems more natural English but slightly vague about the reason for what is being described.

(3) is natural, and, unlike the other two, is specific about the cause of death.
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How could I say the first 2 naturally without giving the cause of death?

Is there a way?
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Cats often just wander off to be by themselves when they feel that they are dying.
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Some cats just curl up and die.
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But what if their master has died, and want to die themselves. to curl up and die doesn't convey duration or does it GPY?
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Anonymous But what if their master has died, and want to die themselves. to curl up and die doesn't convey duration or does it GPY?
It doesn't particularly convey a long duration, but long enough for a weak or sad cat to die.
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By the way, I think cats are normally too aloof to recognise a "master"! Dogs, maybe.
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To you, how long a duration does it convey?

To me, 'The cat curls up and dies' means it curls up and it dies in the next half hour, maybe its been shot' That's what I get from the sentence. What about you?

Many thanks
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AnonymousTo you, how long a duration does it convey?
I really couldn't put an exact time on it. It's just an expression.
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