Pronouns again this is my last one!!!!
Should I write TO between teel and themselves? or is correct?
After John had been in captivity for three years, he and his wife have a lot to tell themselves.
Thanks
5 Answers
Well this question isn't as simple as adding or leaving out To. You could say"...........he and his wife had a lot to talk about *or** ...a lot to say between themselves.
After John had been in captivity for three years, he and his wife have a lot to tell themselves
After John had in captivity for three years, he and his wife had a lot to tell each other. it takes place in the past and it sounds less weird when u keep it simple. when u say themselves it means they are talking to themselves; like John is talking to John (himself) which makes him look crazy. u use each other because it is two people interacting.
After John's captivity for three years, he and his wife have a lot to talk about. u can also say it this way if u want to use have which sounds better.
In my opinion the best way to say what you want to say is John and his wife have a lot to talk about after his captivity for three years.
This seems potentially fine to me, although I agree with barefootwalk that "they had a lot to tell each other" sounds better if you mean that they will be talking with each other (I assume talking about all the events of their lives during John's captivity). As ZovaDot said, "to tell (to) themselves" implies that each person is talking to him/herself. And in this case, the "to" in between "tell" and "themselves" is optional (I'm a native speaker and I would probably leave it out), although the one before "tell" is absolutely necessary. Are you telling a story/narration? I would also suggest changing either the first "had" or the second "have" to match tenses depending on if the rest of the narration is taking place in the present or past tense. For example, "After John had been in captivity for three years, he and his wife had a lot to tell each other. They went upstairs to talk." or "Since John has been in captivity for three years, he and his wife have a lot to tell each other. They go upstairs to talk." I think the past tense sounds more natural, but it depends on the rest of the narration. Good Luck!
.. I don't exactly understand what captivity means.. even though I am fluent in English, but I do suggest to say "tell each other" instead of "tell themselves".
To say "tell to themselves" or "tell themselves" means to have John tell ONLY to himself, and his wife to tell ONLY herself. All of this means that if you use either of these two phrasing, it means that John and the wife does not tell anything to each other, but instead they tell whatever they need to say, to theirself (for example, Jack tells himself to not be rude.)
Do you get it? haha sorry if I dont make much sense but hopefully goodluck (:
Yes, "to" is needed between tell and themselves. Although, you probably should say "tell each other". I don't know what context you are using, but if you mean John has to tell things to his wife, and the wife needs to tell things to John, then it is "to tell each other".
