A snake!
从 Hyperboreus, 2012年8月29日
讯息: 23
语言: English
Hyperboreus (显示个人资料) 2012年8月29日上午3:08:30
antoniomoya (显示个人资料) 2012年8月29日上午5:07:04
"Johano vidis serpenton apud si"
Amike.
rakuten98le (显示个人资料) 2012年8月29日上午8:30:35
The same thing goes to the esperanto translation: "Johano vidis serpenton apud si" is more accurate and it clearly states that the snake is near John
Vestitor (显示个人资料) 2012年8月29日上午9:34:50
Simon Pure (显示个人资料) 2012年8月29日上午9:46:22
Hyperboreus:I cannot say whether it is grammatically correct, but it is a sentence I would expect an English speaker to use. Adding self clarifies that 'him' refers to John and not another person.
a) Would "?John saw a snake near himself." also be correct?
N.B. English speakers will vary, greatly. (I don't wan't to start a debate over British/American English differences.)
sudanglo (显示个人资料) 2012年8月29日上午10:42:17
Within the rules of Esperanto there really is no choice if you want to avoid confusion as to whether the snake was near him or someone else.
Strict application of those rules means that there is an ambiguity in, for example, John and his friend went for a walk - Johano kaj lia amiko iris promeni. But you can avoid that by saying Johano promenis kun sia amiko.
Hyperboreus (显示个人资料) 2012年8月29日下午3:14:27
sudanglo (显示个人资料) 2012年8月29日下午5:52:21
John saw the ghost near her himself would be Johano mem vidis la fantomon apud ŝi.
Hyperboreus (显示个人资料) 2012年8月29日下午6:52:04
darkweasel (显示个人资料) 2012年8月29日下午7:03:21
Hyperboreus:yes.
Am I also correct with this assumption:
"John saw a snake near him." (the snake being near John and not near somebody else)
would be in Esperanto
"Johano vidis serpenton apud si."