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ESL forum >
Ask for help > Hi
Hi
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Pretty3
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Hi
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Hi,
Can you tell me what the difference is between :
She wrote a letter herself.
She wrote a letter by herself. ??
Regards,
Pretty |
8 Apr 2012
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pilarmham
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I �d say that
She wrote a letter herself means that no one else did it for her. She wrote a letter by herself means that she was alone when she did it. |
8 Apr 2012
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Pretty3
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mmmm pilarmham
you mean they have the same meaning ??
When no one did it means she was alone when she did it. |
8 Apr 2012
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ueslteacher
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Here �s what the dictionary has:
Herself1) used when the woman or girl who performs an action is also affected by it
She hurt herself.
2) used to emphasize the female subject or object of a sentenceShe told me the news herself.
Jane herself was at the meeting.
(all) by herself1alone; without anyone elseShe lives by herself.2without helpShe runs the business by herself.
Sophia |
8 Apr 2012
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pilarmham
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Well, in the first example maybe she had some company, I bet she was quite bored in the second one. In any case, she did all the work! |
8 Apr 2012
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MoodyMoody
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"She wrote the letter by herself" can also mean "without help." I can hear a 5-year-old child say, "I did it all by myself," with Mommy standing right there. |
8 Apr 2012
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pilarmham
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That �s not fair, MoodyMoody, you are mixing up things! |
8 Apr 2012
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Apodo
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I agree with MoodyMoody.
A child can do something by themselves, but it doesn �t mean they are alone. We use this phrase all the time.
This is the meaning I would infer from these sentences:
She wrote a letter herself. - (1) She didn �t have someone else (eg: a lawyer ) write it for her.
or (2) Several people wrote letters (eg: to the newspaper) and she wrote one also.
She wrote a letter by herself. - I would assume this is a child/person writing without assistance.
She was by herself when she wrote the letter. - She was alone. |
8 Apr 2012
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Pretty3
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Thanks a lot all for your help :) |
9 Apr 2012
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