Korean Job Discussion Forums

[demi]

"People often adopt clothing styles which distinguish 'them/themselves' from other groups of people in their society."

According to an exam all the students had in high school. 'Themselves' is incorrect and only 'them' is acceptable.

Do you agree? Why?

[billybrobby]

[kimchi story]

Because 'them' is the third person plural object pronoun.

Alternatively: People distinguish themselves from others through the adoption of certain clothing styles.

'Themselves' is a reflexive pronoun and a reflexive pronoun is used when the subject and object both refer to the same person or thing.

In your example clothing styles are doing the distinguishing, not people.

(edited to add: simulpost - we're saying the same thing)

[demi]

[demi]

I forgot to thank kimichi.

Thanks kimchi

[RACETRAITOR]

Yeah, it's ridiculous. I probably would've gotten it wrong myself.

Fluent English speakers make tons of mistakes. I guess it's just that we make different mistakes from Koreans, so ours are considered more acceptable.

[billybrobby]

[kimchi story]

[faster]

That really shouldn't be difficult. Reflexive verb phrases are pretty clear-cut.

[Privateer]

It's confusing because the subject is people, but the object has a relative clause nested within it.