Job Discussion Forums

[Gregor]

Not that I'm the one over-reacting, but I didn't know what IIRC meant. Thank you for that. I'm now that much more Internet literate. ;-)

[Chasgul]

The fact that you have a life outside of the internet has finally come to light through your admission.

[EFLtrainer]

So, in other words.... after all this chat.... noone knows for sure? Hmmm.... the point, already made, is that there may be no for sure in grammar because... grammar isn't language, after all, is it. It's just what we use to try to discuss/explain what we communicate verbally and in writing. Language is not bound by the rules, the rules are bound by language.

Beautiful, ain't it?

That said (and I'm not a grammarian) seems to me comparison is usually useful to figure out function.

Lift your leg behind you.

Put your cup behind him.
Put your cup behind her.
Put your cup behind them.
Put your cup behind us.
Put your cup behind you.

But, since the reference is to the person with the cup, is it then reflexive? The person is being told to do something relative to themselves, not another person. How about:

Talk to you.
Talk to yourself.

Ask your question of you.
Ask your question of yourself.


While I don't think there is a "right" answer given that language is always in the proces fo change, I think the reflexive best fits what most would consider "proper."

Anyone have a "definitive" answer?

EFLtrainer

[Joe Gahona]

The distinction I see is that "you" is used in literal/physical/spacial cases -- i.e., "Put the cup beind you[r body]."

Not definitive, but the best I've come up with so far!