FreshParsnip@lemmy.ca to Showerthoughts@lemmy.world · 2 days agoIt is linguistically impossible to behave anyone but yourselfmessage-squaremessage-square20fedilinkarrow-up133arrow-down110
arrow-up123arrow-down1message-squareIt is linguistically impossible to behave anyone but yourselfFreshParsnip@lemmy.ca to Showerthoughts@lemmy.world · 2 days agomessage-square20fedilink
minus-squareFreshParsnip@lemmy.caOPlinkfedilinkarrow-up7arrow-down1·2 days agoI’m talking about the phrase “behave yourself”. In the English language, there is no such thing as behaving someone else, only behaving yourself. I don’t know if there’s another language where “behave someone else” makes linguistic sense
minus-squareavattar@lemmy.sdf.orglinkfedilinkarrow-up3·2 days agoHow about this phrase: “Make sure you daughter behaves herself”
minus-squareFreshParsnip@lemmy.caOPlinkfedilinkarrow-up2arrow-down1·2 days agoThe daughter is behaving herself, not behaving someone else. In English, we don’t say “behave your daughter”
I’m talking about the phrase “behave yourself”. In the English language, there is no such thing as behaving someone else, only behaving yourself. I don’t know if there’s another language where “behave someone else” makes linguistic sense
How about this phrase: “Make sure you daughter behaves herself”
The daughter is behaving herself, not behaving someone else. In English, we don’t say “behave your daughter”