What does this sentence mean?
Hi, In the middle of watching the historical period BBC drama War and Peace' 6th episode, I couldn't understand these lines no matter how hard I tried. In episode 6, this Russian general urged General Kutuzov to attack the French Army with saying these sentences.
The (French) soldiers are preoccupied with arresting looters.
Those who are not looting themselves.
I am not able to comprehend the meaning of the second sentence.
Who are "those who" and "themselves"? Can someone give me some explanation?
Search from various English teachers...
Answers · 3
1
The second sentence is implying that many of the soldiers are taking part in the looting. "Those who" refers to the soldiers who are not looting who are too busy arresting people.
1
It's implying some of the French soldiers are taking part in the looting themselves.
So, "Those who are not looting themselves" means "Those (of the French soldiers) who are not looting themselves".
"themselves" here is not the object of "looting" but an adverb, as in "they themselves are looting (stores and homes)".
1
"Those" refers to the French soldiers. "Themselves" also refers to the French soldiers; it is there for emphasis.
We could rewrite this statement as "The French soldiers who are not (themselves) looting are preoccupied with arresting looters".
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