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Anonymous Posted 13 years ago
Grammar

Yourself vs. by yourself

What is the technical difference between saying "you could learn this by yourself" and "you could learn this yourself"?
  

Top answer

The meaning is more or less the same, but the usage would be different. The first sentence, with the word "by," sounds condescending, and might be used when speaking to a child or to someone you consider lacking in intelligence. If said to someone who is your intellectual equal, it would sound insulting.

— Anonymous

  • The meaning is more or less the same, but the usage would be different.
  • The first sentence, with the word "by," sounds condescending, and might be used when speaking to a child or to someone you consider lacking in intelligence.
  • If said to someone who is your intellectual equal, it would sound insulting.
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2 Answers
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The meaning is more or less the same, but the usage would be different. The first sentence, with the word "by," sounds condescending, and might be used when speaking to a child or to someone you consider lacking in intelligence. If said to someone who is your intellectual equal, it would sound insulting.
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AnonymousYou could learn this yourself.
= You yourself could learn this.
= You, too, could learn this.
= You could learn this without any help from others.
AnonymousYou could learn this by yourself.
= You could learn this without any help from others.
= You could learn this when you are alone.

CJ
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