In “led them”, does 'them' include the leader himself?

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But the others wouldn't let Professor Quirrell keep Harry to himself. It took almost ten minutes to get away from them all. At last, Hagrid managed to make himself heard over the babble.



"Must get on -- lots ter buy. Come on, Harry."



Doris Crockford shook Harry's hand one last time, and Hagrid led them
through the bar and out into a small, walled courtyard, where there
was nothing but a trash can and a few weeds.




I think 'them' in this context only includes Hagrid and Harry because no others have been mentioned in later context, but I might be wrong. If this is the case, why didn't it put: "led him"(Harry) instead. Or is it idiomatic to include the leader himself in such contexts?










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  • Unless something is explicitly stated, the referent of a pronoun can never be known with certainty (barring asking the composer of a sentence directly).
    – Jason Bassford
    Oct 4 at 1:18










  • Compare led their way, where their can include the one who leads.
    – Tᴚoɯɐuo
    Oct 4 at 12:42






  • 3




    When you break it down, it is a bad thing to do and really doesn't make sense. But she likely just quickly chose a word that was close enough and moved on, because when you read it quickly it works.
    – Jamie Clinton
    Oct 4 at 17:16
















up vote
9
down vote

favorite
1













But the others wouldn't let Professor Quirrell keep Harry to himself. It took almost ten minutes to get away from them all. At last, Hagrid managed to make himself heard over the babble.



"Must get on -- lots ter buy. Come on, Harry."



Doris Crockford shook Harry's hand one last time, and Hagrid led them
through the bar and out into a small, walled courtyard, where there
was nothing but a trash can and a few weeds.




I think 'them' in this context only includes Hagrid and Harry because no others have been mentioned in later context, but I might be wrong. If this is the case, why didn't it put: "led him"(Harry) instead. Or is it idiomatic to include the leader himself in such contexts?










share|improve this question























  • Unless something is explicitly stated, the referent of a pronoun can never be known with certainty (barring asking the composer of a sentence directly).
    – Jason Bassford
    Oct 4 at 1:18










  • Compare led their way, where their can include the one who leads.
    – Tᴚoɯɐuo
    Oct 4 at 12:42






  • 3




    When you break it down, it is a bad thing to do and really doesn't make sense. But she likely just quickly chose a word that was close enough and moved on, because when you read it quickly it works.
    – Jamie Clinton
    Oct 4 at 17:16












up vote
9
down vote

favorite
1









up vote
9
down vote

favorite
1






1






But the others wouldn't let Professor Quirrell keep Harry to himself. It took almost ten minutes to get away from them all. At last, Hagrid managed to make himself heard over the babble.



"Must get on -- lots ter buy. Come on, Harry."



Doris Crockford shook Harry's hand one last time, and Hagrid led them
through the bar and out into a small, walled courtyard, where there
was nothing but a trash can and a few weeds.




I think 'them' in this context only includes Hagrid and Harry because no others have been mentioned in later context, but I might be wrong. If this is the case, why didn't it put: "led him"(Harry) instead. Or is it idiomatic to include the leader himself in such contexts?










share|improve this question
















But the others wouldn't let Professor Quirrell keep Harry to himself. It took almost ten minutes to get away from them all. At last, Hagrid managed to make himself heard over the babble.



"Must get on -- lots ter buy. Come on, Harry."



Doris Crockford shook Harry's hand one last time, and Hagrid led them
through the bar and out into a small, walled courtyard, where there
was nothing but a trash can and a few weeds.




I think 'them' in this context only includes Hagrid and Harry because no others have been mentioned in later context, but I might be wrong. If this is the case, why didn't it put: "led him"(Harry) instead. Or is it idiomatic to include the leader himself in such contexts?







word-usage






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edited Oct 4 at 1:34

























asked Oct 4 at 1:01









dan

2,30711344




2,30711344











  • Unless something is explicitly stated, the referent of a pronoun can never be known with certainty (barring asking the composer of a sentence directly).
    – Jason Bassford
    Oct 4 at 1:18










  • Compare led their way, where their can include the one who leads.
    – Tᴚoɯɐuo
    Oct 4 at 12:42






  • 3




    When you break it down, it is a bad thing to do and really doesn't make sense. But she likely just quickly chose a word that was close enough and moved on, because when you read it quickly it works.
    – Jamie Clinton
    Oct 4 at 17:16
















  • Unless something is explicitly stated, the referent of a pronoun can never be known with certainty (barring asking the composer of a sentence directly).
    – Jason Bassford
    Oct 4 at 1:18










  • Compare led their way, where their can include the one who leads.
    – Tᴚoɯɐuo
    Oct 4 at 12:42






  • 3




    When you break it down, it is a bad thing to do and really doesn't make sense. But she likely just quickly chose a word that was close enough and moved on, because when you read it quickly it works.
    – Jamie Clinton
    Oct 4 at 17:16















Unless something is explicitly stated, the referent of a pronoun can never be known with certainty (barring asking the composer of a sentence directly).
– Jason Bassford
Oct 4 at 1:18




Unless something is explicitly stated, the referent of a pronoun can never be known with certainty (barring asking the composer of a sentence directly).
– Jason Bassford
Oct 4 at 1:18












Compare led their way, where their can include the one who leads.
– Tᴚoɯɐuo
Oct 4 at 12:42




Compare led their way, where their can include the one who leads.
– Tᴚoɯɐuo
Oct 4 at 12:42




3




3




When you break it down, it is a bad thing to do and really doesn't make sense. But she likely just quickly chose a word that was close enough and moved on, because when you read it quickly it works.
– Jamie Clinton
Oct 4 at 17:16




When you break it down, it is a bad thing to do and really doesn't make sense. But she likely just quickly chose a word that was close enough and moved on, because when you read it quickly it works.
– Jamie Clinton
Oct 4 at 17:16










6 Answers
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14
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In this case, "them" does refer to both Hagrid and Harry. "Lead" does not necessarily exclude the leader, as it can refer to a general course of action:




lead (v): 1.1 [with object and adverbial of direction] Show (someone or something) the way to a destination by going in front of or beside them.




For example, in the context of this story it would have been perfectly natural to have written:




As they negotiated the dark and twisty turns of Diagon Alley, Harry stepped close to Hagrid and whispered, "Where are you leading us, Hagrid?"




(Edit) Note that it would have been fine to write




Where are you leading me, Hagrid?




but the tone would have been significantly more mysterious, if not outright ominous. The collective "us" or "them" implies that, wherever they are going, they're going there together, but the singular "me" or "him" implies that, when they get to where they are going, Harry will have to face it alone.






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    I do not know the context, but "A led B" does not normally mean that A led himself. So, it may be that Hagrid is leading Harry and one or more others. Alternatively, it may be that the author meant to say something "Hagrid took the lead through the bar and out into ..." The idiom of "take the lead" certainly assumes that the leader was on the trip.






    share|improve this answer




















    • but more later context seemingly only involved two persons, Hagrid and Harry. no others had been mentioned at all.
      – dan
      Oct 4 at 1:26






    • 2




      As I said, the phrase "take the lead" certainly includes the leader. But, in its literal meaing, one person leads, and one or more others follow. However, as other answers have explained, the leader is certainly on the journey, and that can result in locutions like "where are you leading us," because the leader and followers are going together to the same destination. Nevertheless, if it was merely two people, one leader and one follower, it would certainly be clearer to say "led him."
      – Jeff Morrow
      Oct 4 at 1:52











    • thanks! that's also what i thought orriginally.
      – dan
      Oct 4 at 2:12










    • @dan The context doesn't say explicitly when other people might have "stopped" following Hagrid and Harry. When they realized H & H were going out of Diagon Alley, they would be unlikely to follow them any further. Stories often leave the reader to "fill in the gaps" between what is explicitly said, written, or shown visually (in a movie).
      – alephzero
      Oct 4 at 9:18







    • 1




      @alephzero Even if other people kept following, Hagrid wasn't necessarily leading the other people (and in this context, definitely not). Btw, H&H were going into Diagon Alley in this scene (they go into the Leaky Tavern through the front, a bunch of people shake Harry's hand, then they go out the back of the Leaky Tavern here...after that they go through the magic portal from the back of the Leaky Tavern into Diagon Alley).
      – user3067860
      Oct 4 at 14:18

















    up vote
    4
    down vote













    I disagree with the other answers here. "Led them" and Harry's questions about "leading us" can only mean "Hagrid was leading Harry and some other people" IMO.



    As a British English speaker (and a mathematician, so I'm familiar with weird logical ideas!) the notion that a person (i.e. Hagrid) can "lead himself" doesn't make any sense in English.



    The definition of "lead" in https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/lead is




    Cause (a person or animal) to go with one ...




    You can't "cause yourself to go with yourself".



    In Peter's answer, the idea that someone can make a fire to "keep himself (and other people) warm" is perfectly OK, but that is not analogous to "leading himself." To take a different example, if Harry had asked Hagrid "Why are you talking to us?" the word "us" can only mean that Hagrid was talking to Harry and some other people - not that Hagrid was talking to himself!



    Common sense would suggest that the crowd of people wanting to see Harry would naturally want to follow, wherever Hagrid was taking him. But the plot of the story is focussed on Harry and Hagrid, and what happens to the crowd of followers isn't important once they stop interacting with Harry - so Rowling just "forgets" about them. Describing what they did later would be "too much information", and only serve to slow the storytelling down.






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    • I absolutely agree with what you're saying, but I think that in this case it does only refer to Hagrid and Harry, and is bad English.
      – Guy G
      Oct 4 at 9:56






    • 1




      No. 'led him' sounds like Harry didn't know the way. 'Led them' simply means (in this context) that Hagrid went first, with Harry behind.
      – Strawberry
      Oct 4 at 10:39










    • Being 'out of your mind' and 'beside yourself' don't make any sense in a related context but are still in use. Ms Rowling's use is quirky but not unheard of. She has a rather colloquial, writing-like-you-speak style.
      – mcalex
      Oct 4 at 20:35






    • 2




      This answer assumes that only the first definition of "lead" is relevant. To my ear, this sentence sounds much closer to definition 3, "be in charge or command of". That is, there was a group consisting of two people (Hagrid and Harry), and Hagrid was acting as the leader of that group.
      – David
      Oct 4 at 23:40






    • 1




      People can lead themselves. Why not? Judges "direct" themselves. bing.com/search?q=%22judge+directed+himself%22
      – Ben
      2 days ago

















    up vote
    3
    down vote













    In your example




    them




    means both Harry and Hagrid, the sentence has an implicit both




    led them (both) through the bar




    in the same way




    The fire he made, kept them (both) warm.




    which includes the person who made the fire.






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    • but more later context seemingly only involved two persons, Hagrid and Harry. no others had been mentioned at all.
      – dan
      Oct 4 at 1:24










    • @dan Thanks, I've edited my answer.
      – Peter
      Oct 4 at 1:39

















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    1
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    As others have pointed out, it's obvious (but only) from the subsequent context (not published above) that 'led' in this instance refers only to Hagrid and Harry, so yes, Hagrid 'led himself'.






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      For me, whether the leader is included or not conveys the amount of authority or relevant knowledge. If a scout master leads his scouts (i.e. others) through the forest, it implies the scouts are clueless and helpless without his leadership. If a someone leads a team of researchers (i.e. is part of the team), it implies that all members are more or less equally competent, but the leader is directing their efforts.






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        6 Answers
        6






        active

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        6 Answers
        6






        active

        oldest

        votes









        active

        oldest

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        active

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        votes








        up vote
        14
        down vote



        accepted










        In this case, "them" does refer to both Hagrid and Harry. "Lead" does not necessarily exclude the leader, as it can refer to a general course of action:




        lead (v): 1.1 [with object and adverbial of direction] Show (someone or something) the way to a destination by going in front of or beside them.




        For example, in the context of this story it would have been perfectly natural to have written:




        As they negotiated the dark and twisty turns of Diagon Alley, Harry stepped close to Hagrid and whispered, "Where are you leading us, Hagrid?"




        (Edit) Note that it would have been fine to write




        Where are you leading me, Hagrid?




        but the tone would have been significantly more mysterious, if not outright ominous. The collective "us" or "them" implies that, wherever they are going, they're going there together, but the singular "me" or "him" implies that, when they get to where they are going, Harry will have to face it alone.






        share|improve this answer


























          up vote
          14
          down vote



          accepted










          In this case, "them" does refer to both Hagrid and Harry. "Lead" does not necessarily exclude the leader, as it can refer to a general course of action:




          lead (v): 1.1 [with object and adverbial of direction] Show (someone or something) the way to a destination by going in front of or beside them.




          For example, in the context of this story it would have been perfectly natural to have written:




          As they negotiated the dark and twisty turns of Diagon Alley, Harry stepped close to Hagrid and whispered, "Where are you leading us, Hagrid?"




          (Edit) Note that it would have been fine to write




          Where are you leading me, Hagrid?




          but the tone would have been significantly more mysterious, if not outright ominous. The collective "us" or "them" implies that, wherever they are going, they're going there together, but the singular "me" or "him" implies that, when they get to where they are going, Harry will have to face it alone.






          share|improve this answer
























            up vote
            14
            down vote



            accepted







            up vote
            14
            down vote



            accepted






            In this case, "them" does refer to both Hagrid and Harry. "Lead" does not necessarily exclude the leader, as it can refer to a general course of action:




            lead (v): 1.1 [with object and adverbial of direction] Show (someone or something) the way to a destination by going in front of or beside them.




            For example, in the context of this story it would have been perfectly natural to have written:




            As they negotiated the dark and twisty turns of Diagon Alley, Harry stepped close to Hagrid and whispered, "Where are you leading us, Hagrid?"




            (Edit) Note that it would have been fine to write




            Where are you leading me, Hagrid?




            but the tone would have been significantly more mysterious, if not outright ominous. The collective "us" or "them" implies that, wherever they are going, they're going there together, but the singular "me" or "him" implies that, when they get to where they are going, Harry will have to face it alone.






            share|improve this answer














            In this case, "them" does refer to both Hagrid and Harry. "Lead" does not necessarily exclude the leader, as it can refer to a general course of action:




            lead (v): 1.1 [with object and adverbial of direction] Show (someone or something) the way to a destination by going in front of or beside them.




            For example, in the context of this story it would have been perfectly natural to have written:




            As they negotiated the dark and twisty turns of Diagon Alley, Harry stepped close to Hagrid and whispered, "Where are you leading us, Hagrid?"




            (Edit) Note that it would have been fine to write




            Where are you leading me, Hagrid?




            but the tone would have been significantly more mysterious, if not outright ominous. The collective "us" or "them" implies that, wherever they are going, they're going there together, but the singular "me" or "him" implies that, when they get to where they are going, Harry will have to face it alone.







            share|improve this answer














            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer








            edited 2 days ago

























            answered Oct 4 at 1:28









            Andrew

            58.1k565127




            58.1k565127






















                up vote
                5
                down vote













                I do not know the context, but "A led B" does not normally mean that A led himself. So, it may be that Hagrid is leading Harry and one or more others. Alternatively, it may be that the author meant to say something "Hagrid took the lead through the bar and out into ..." The idiom of "take the lead" certainly assumes that the leader was on the trip.






                share|improve this answer




















                • but more later context seemingly only involved two persons, Hagrid and Harry. no others had been mentioned at all.
                  – dan
                  Oct 4 at 1:26






                • 2




                  As I said, the phrase "take the lead" certainly includes the leader. But, in its literal meaing, one person leads, and one or more others follow. However, as other answers have explained, the leader is certainly on the journey, and that can result in locutions like "where are you leading us," because the leader and followers are going together to the same destination. Nevertheless, if it was merely two people, one leader and one follower, it would certainly be clearer to say "led him."
                  – Jeff Morrow
                  Oct 4 at 1:52











                • thanks! that's also what i thought orriginally.
                  – dan
                  Oct 4 at 2:12










                • @dan The context doesn't say explicitly when other people might have "stopped" following Hagrid and Harry. When they realized H & H were going out of Diagon Alley, they would be unlikely to follow them any further. Stories often leave the reader to "fill in the gaps" between what is explicitly said, written, or shown visually (in a movie).
                  – alephzero
                  Oct 4 at 9:18







                • 1




                  @alephzero Even if other people kept following, Hagrid wasn't necessarily leading the other people (and in this context, definitely not). Btw, H&H were going into Diagon Alley in this scene (they go into the Leaky Tavern through the front, a bunch of people shake Harry's hand, then they go out the back of the Leaky Tavern here...after that they go through the magic portal from the back of the Leaky Tavern into Diagon Alley).
                  – user3067860
                  Oct 4 at 14:18














                up vote
                5
                down vote













                I do not know the context, but "A led B" does not normally mean that A led himself. So, it may be that Hagrid is leading Harry and one or more others. Alternatively, it may be that the author meant to say something "Hagrid took the lead through the bar and out into ..." The idiom of "take the lead" certainly assumes that the leader was on the trip.






                share|improve this answer




















                • but more later context seemingly only involved two persons, Hagrid and Harry. no others had been mentioned at all.
                  – dan
                  Oct 4 at 1:26






                • 2




                  As I said, the phrase "take the lead" certainly includes the leader. But, in its literal meaing, one person leads, and one or more others follow. However, as other answers have explained, the leader is certainly on the journey, and that can result in locutions like "where are you leading us," because the leader and followers are going together to the same destination. Nevertheless, if it was merely two people, one leader and one follower, it would certainly be clearer to say "led him."
                  – Jeff Morrow
                  Oct 4 at 1:52











                • thanks! that's also what i thought orriginally.
                  – dan
                  Oct 4 at 2:12










                • @dan The context doesn't say explicitly when other people might have "stopped" following Hagrid and Harry. When they realized H & H were going out of Diagon Alley, they would be unlikely to follow them any further. Stories often leave the reader to "fill in the gaps" between what is explicitly said, written, or shown visually (in a movie).
                  – alephzero
                  Oct 4 at 9:18







                • 1




                  @alephzero Even if other people kept following, Hagrid wasn't necessarily leading the other people (and in this context, definitely not). Btw, H&H were going into Diagon Alley in this scene (they go into the Leaky Tavern through the front, a bunch of people shake Harry's hand, then they go out the back of the Leaky Tavern here...after that they go through the magic portal from the back of the Leaky Tavern into Diagon Alley).
                  – user3067860
                  Oct 4 at 14:18












                up vote
                5
                down vote










                up vote
                5
                down vote









                I do not know the context, but "A led B" does not normally mean that A led himself. So, it may be that Hagrid is leading Harry and one or more others. Alternatively, it may be that the author meant to say something "Hagrid took the lead through the bar and out into ..." The idiom of "take the lead" certainly assumes that the leader was on the trip.






                share|improve this answer












                I do not know the context, but "A led B" does not normally mean that A led himself. So, it may be that Hagrid is leading Harry and one or more others. Alternatively, it may be that the author meant to say something "Hagrid took the lead through the bar and out into ..." The idiom of "take the lead" certainly assumes that the leader was on the trip.







                share|improve this answer












                share|improve this answer



                share|improve this answer










                answered Oct 4 at 1:15









                Jeff Morrow

                7,932822




                7,932822











                • but more later context seemingly only involved two persons, Hagrid and Harry. no others had been mentioned at all.
                  – dan
                  Oct 4 at 1:26






                • 2




                  As I said, the phrase "take the lead" certainly includes the leader. But, in its literal meaing, one person leads, and one or more others follow. However, as other answers have explained, the leader is certainly on the journey, and that can result in locutions like "where are you leading us," because the leader and followers are going together to the same destination. Nevertheless, if it was merely two people, one leader and one follower, it would certainly be clearer to say "led him."
                  – Jeff Morrow
                  Oct 4 at 1:52











                • thanks! that's also what i thought orriginally.
                  – dan
                  Oct 4 at 2:12










                • @dan The context doesn't say explicitly when other people might have "stopped" following Hagrid and Harry. When they realized H & H were going out of Diagon Alley, they would be unlikely to follow them any further. Stories often leave the reader to "fill in the gaps" between what is explicitly said, written, or shown visually (in a movie).
                  – alephzero
                  Oct 4 at 9:18







                • 1




                  @alephzero Even if other people kept following, Hagrid wasn't necessarily leading the other people (and in this context, definitely not). Btw, H&H were going into Diagon Alley in this scene (they go into the Leaky Tavern through the front, a bunch of people shake Harry's hand, then they go out the back of the Leaky Tavern here...after that they go through the magic portal from the back of the Leaky Tavern into Diagon Alley).
                  – user3067860
                  Oct 4 at 14:18
















                • but more later context seemingly only involved two persons, Hagrid and Harry. no others had been mentioned at all.
                  – dan
                  Oct 4 at 1:26






                • 2




                  As I said, the phrase "take the lead" certainly includes the leader. But, in its literal meaing, one person leads, and one or more others follow. However, as other answers have explained, the leader is certainly on the journey, and that can result in locutions like "where are you leading us," because the leader and followers are going together to the same destination. Nevertheless, if it was merely two people, one leader and one follower, it would certainly be clearer to say "led him."
                  – Jeff Morrow
                  Oct 4 at 1:52











                • thanks! that's also what i thought orriginally.
                  – dan
                  Oct 4 at 2:12










                • @dan The context doesn't say explicitly when other people might have "stopped" following Hagrid and Harry. When they realized H & H were going out of Diagon Alley, they would be unlikely to follow them any further. Stories often leave the reader to "fill in the gaps" between what is explicitly said, written, or shown visually (in a movie).
                  – alephzero
                  Oct 4 at 9:18







                • 1




                  @alephzero Even if other people kept following, Hagrid wasn't necessarily leading the other people (and in this context, definitely not). Btw, H&H were going into Diagon Alley in this scene (they go into the Leaky Tavern through the front, a bunch of people shake Harry's hand, then they go out the back of the Leaky Tavern here...after that they go through the magic portal from the back of the Leaky Tavern into Diagon Alley).
                  – user3067860
                  Oct 4 at 14:18















                but more later context seemingly only involved two persons, Hagrid and Harry. no others had been mentioned at all.
                – dan
                Oct 4 at 1:26




                but more later context seemingly only involved two persons, Hagrid and Harry. no others had been mentioned at all.
                – dan
                Oct 4 at 1:26




                2




                2




                As I said, the phrase "take the lead" certainly includes the leader. But, in its literal meaing, one person leads, and one or more others follow. However, as other answers have explained, the leader is certainly on the journey, and that can result in locutions like "where are you leading us," because the leader and followers are going together to the same destination. Nevertheless, if it was merely two people, one leader and one follower, it would certainly be clearer to say "led him."
                – Jeff Morrow
                Oct 4 at 1:52





                As I said, the phrase "take the lead" certainly includes the leader. But, in its literal meaing, one person leads, and one or more others follow. However, as other answers have explained, the leader is certainly on the journey, and that can result in locutions like "where are you leading us," because the leader and followers are going together to the same destination. Nevertheless, if it was merely two people, one leader and one follower, it would certainly be clearer to say "led him."
                – Jeff Morrow
                Oct 4 at 1:52













                thanks! that's also what i thought orriginally.
                – dan
                Oct 4 at 2:12




                thanks! that's also what i thought orriginally.
                – dan
                Oct 4 at 2:12












                @dan The context doesn't say explicitly when other people might have "stopped" following Hagrid and Harry. When they realized H & H were going out of Diagon Alley, they would be unlikely to follow them any further. Stories often leave the reader to "fill in the gaps" between what is explicitly said, written, or shown visually (in a movie).
                – alephzero
                Oct 4 at 9:18





                @dan The context doesn't say explicitly when other people might have "stopped" following Hagrid and Harry. When they realized H & H were going out of Diagon Alley, they would be unlikely to follow them any further. Stories often leave the reader to "fill in the gaps" between what is explicitly said, written, or shown visually (in a movie).
                – alephzero
                Oct 4 at 9:18





                1




                1




                @alephzero Even if other people kept following, Hagrid wasn't necessarily leading the other people (and in this context, definitely not). Btw, H&H were going into Diagon Alley in this scene (they go into the Leaky Tavern through the front, a bunch of people shake Harry's hand, then they go out the back of the Leaky Tavern here...after that they go through the magic portal from the back of the Leaky Tavern into Diagon Alley).
                – user3067860
                Oct 4 at 14:18




                @alephzero Even if other people kept following, Hagrid wasn't necessarily leading the other people (and in this context, definitely not). Btw, H&H were going into Diagon Alley in this scene (they go into the Leaky Tavern through the front, a bunch of people shake Harry's hand, then they go out the back of the Leaky Tavern here...after that they go through the magic portal from the back of the Leaky Tavern into Diagon Alley).
                – user3067860
                Oct 4 at 14:18










                up vote
                4
                down vote













                I disagree with the other answers here. "Led them" and Harry's questions about "leading us" can only mean "Hagrid was leading Harry and some other people" IMO.



                As a British English speaker (and a mathematician, so I'm familiar with weird logical ideas!) the notion that a person (i.e. Hagrid) can "lead himself" doesn't make any sense in English.



                The definition of "lead" in https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/lead is




                Cause (a person or animal) to go with one ...




                You can't "cause yourself to go with yourself".



                In Peter's answer, the idea that someone can make a fire to "keep himself (and other people) warm" is perfectly OK, but that is not analogous to "leading himself." To take a different example, if Harry had asked Hagrid "Why are you talking to us?" the word "us" can only mean that Hagrid was talking to Harry and some other people - not that Hagrid was talking to himself!



                Common sense would suggest that the crowd of people wanting to see Harry would naturally want to follow, wherever Hagrid was taking him. But the plot of the story is focussed on Harry and Hagrid, and what happens to the crowd of followers isn't important once they stop interacting with Harry - so Rowling just "forgets" about them. Describing what they did later would be "too much information", and only serve to slow the storytelling down.






                share|improve this answer






















                • I absolutely agree with what you're saying, but I think that in this case it does only refer to Hagrid and Harry, and is bad English.
                  – Guy G
                  Oct 4 at 9:56






                • 1




                  No. 'led him' sounds like Harry didn't know the way. 'Led them' simply means (in this context) that Hagrid went first, with Harry behind.
                  – Strawberry
                  Oct 4 at 10:39










                • Being 'out of your mind' and 'beside yourself' don't make any sense in a related context but are still in use. Ms Rowling's use is quirky but not unheard of. She has a rather colloquial, writing-like-you-speak style.
                  – mcalex
                  Oct 4 at 20:35






                • 2




                  This answer assumes that only the first definition of "lead" is relevant. To my ear, this sentence sounds much closer to definition 3, "be in charge or command of". That is, there was a group consisting of two people (Hagrid and Harry), and Hagrid was acting as the leader of that group.
                  – David
                  Oct 4 at 23:40






                • 1




                  People can lead themselves. Why not? Judges "direct" themselves. bing.com/search?q=%22judge+directed+himself%22
                  – Ben
                  2 days ago














                up vote
                4
                down vote













                I disagree with the other answers here. "Led them" and Harry's questions about "leading us" can only mean "Hagrid was leading Harry and some other people" IMO.



                As a British English speaker (and a mathematician, so I'm familiar with weird logical ideas!) the notion that a person (i.e. Hagrid) can "lead himself" doesn't make any sense in English.



                The definition of "lead" in https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/lead is




                Cause (a person or animal) to go with one ...




                You can't "cause yourself to go with yourself".



                In Peter's answer, the idea that someone can make a fire to "keep himself (and other people) warm" is perfectly OK, but that is not analogous to "leading himself." To take a different example, if Harry had asked Hagrid "Why are you talking to us?" the word "us" can only mean that Hagrid was talking to Harry and some other people - not that Hagrid was talking to himself!



                Common sense would suggest that the crowd of people wanting to see Harry would naturally want to follow, wherever Hagrid was taking him. But the plot of the story is focussed on Harry and Hagrid, and what happens to the crowd of followers isn't important once they stop interacting with Harry - so Rowling just "forgets" about them. Describing what they did later would be "too much information", and only serve to slow the storytelling down.






                share|improve this answer






















                • I absolutely agree with what you're saying, but I think that in this case it does only refer to Hagrid and Harry, and is bad English.
                  – Guy G
                  Oct 4 at 9:56






                • 1




                  No. 'led him' sounds like Harry didn't know the way. 'Led them' simply means (in this context) that Hagrid went first, with Harry behind.
                  – Strawberry
                  Oct 4 at 10:39










                • Being 'out of your mind' and 'beside yourself' don't make any sense in a related context but are still in use. Ms Rowling's use is quirky but not unheard of. She has a rather colloquial, writing-like-you-speak style.
                  – mcalex
                  Oct 4 at 20:35






                • 2




                  This answer assumes that only the first definition of "lead" is relevant. To my ear, this sentence sounds much closer to definition 3, "be in charge or command of". That is, there was a group consisting of two people (Hagrid and Harry), and Hagrid was acting as the leader of that group.
                  – David
                  Oct 4 at 23:40






                • 1




                  People can lead themselves. Why not? Judges "direct" themselves. bing.com/search?q=%22judge+directed+himself%22
                  – Ben
                  2 days ago












                up vote
                4
                down vote










                up vote
                4
                down vote









                I disagree with the other answers here. "Led them" and Harry's questions about "leading us" can only mean "Hagrid was leading Harry and some other people" IMO.



                As a British English speaker (and a mathematician, so I'm familiar with weird logical ideas!) the notion that a person (i.e. Hagrid) can "lead himself" doesn't make any sense in English.



                The definition of "lead" in https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/lead is




                Cause (a person or animal) to go with one ...




                You can't "cause yourself to go with yourself".



                In Peter's answer, the idea that someone can make a fire to "keep himself (and other people) warm" is perfectly OK, but that is not analogous to "leading himself." To take a different example, if Harry had asked Hagrid "Why are you talking to us?" the word "us" can only mean that Hagrid was talking to Harry and some other people - not that Hagrid was talking to himself!



                Common sense would suggest that the crowd of people wanting to see Harry would naturally want to follow, wherever Hagrid was taking him. But the plot of the story is focussed on Harry and Hagrid, and what happens to the crowd of followers isn't important once they stop interacting with Harry - so Rowling just "forgets" about them. Describing what they did later would be "too much information", and only serve to slow the storytelling down.






                share|improve this answer














                I disagree with the other answers here. "Led them" and Harry's questions about "leading us" can only mean "Hagrid was leading Harry and some other people" IMO.



                As a British English speaker (and a mathematician, so I'm familiar with weird logical ideas!) the notion that a person (i.e. Hagrid) can "lead himself" doesn't make any sense in English.



                The definition of "lead" in https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/lead is




                Cause (a person or animal) to go with one ...




                You can't "cause yourself to go with yourself".



                In Peter's answer, the idea that someone can make a fire to "keep himself (and other people) warm" is perfectly OK, but that is not analogous to "leading himself." To take a different example, if Harry had asked Hagrid "Why are you talking to us?" the word "us" can only mean that Hagrid was talking to Harry and some other people - not that Hagrid was talking to himself!



                Common sense would suggest that the crowd of people wanting to see Harry would naturally want to follow, wherever Hagrid was taking him. But the plot of the story is focussed on Harry and Hagrid, and what happens to the crowd of followers isn't important once they stop interacting with Harry - so Rowling just "forgets" about them. Describing what they did later would be "too much information", and only serve to slow the storytelling down.







                share|improve this answer














                share|improve this answer



                share|improve this answer








                edited Oct 4 at 9:10

























                answered Oct 4 at 8:49









                alephzero

                1,777412




                1,777412











                • I absolutely agree with what you're saying, but I think that in this case it does only refer to Hagrid and Harry, and is bad English.
                  – Guy G
                  Oct 4 at 9:56






                • 1




                  No. 'led him' sounds like Harry didn't know the way. 'Led them' simply means (in this context) that Hagrid went first, with Harry behind.
                  – Strawberry
                  Oct 4 at 10:39










                • Being 'out of your mind' and 'beside yourself' don't make any sense in a related context but are still in use. Ms Rowling's use is quirky but not unheard of. She has a rather colloquial, writing-like-you-speak style.
                  – mcalex
                  Oct 4 at 20:35






                • 2




                  This answer assumes that only the first definition of "lead" is relevant. To my ear, this sentence sounds much closer to definition 3, "be in charge or command of". That is, there was a group consisting of two people (Hagrid and Harry), and Hagrid was acting as the leader of that group.
                  – David
                  Oct 4 at 23:40






                • 1




                  People can lead themselves. Why not? Judges "direct" themselves. bing.com/search?q=%22judge+directed+himself%22
                  – Ben
                  2 days ago
















                • I absolutely agree with what you're saying, but I think that in this case it does only refer to Hagrid and Harry, and is bad English.
                  – Guy G
                  Oct 4 at 9:56






                • 1




                  No. 'led him' sounds like Harry didn't know the way. 'Led them' simply means (in this context) that Hagrid went first, with Harry behind.
                  – Strawberry
                  Oct 4 at 10:39










                • Being 'out of your mind' and 'beside yourself' don't make any sense in a related context but are still in use. Ms Rowling's use is quirky but not unheard of. She has a rather colloquial, writing-like-you-speak style.
                  – mcalex
                  Oct 4 at 20:35






                • 2




                  This answer assumes that only the first definition of "lead" is relevant. To my ear, this sentence sounds much closer to definition 3, "be in charge or command of". That is, there was a group consisting of two people (Hagrid and Harry), and Hagrid was acting as the leader of that group.
                  – David
                  Oct 4 at 23:40






                • 1




                  People can lead themselves. Why not? Judges "direct" themselves. bing.com/search?q=%22judge+directed+himself%22
                  – Ben
                  2 days ago















                I absolutely agree with what you're saying, but I think that in this case it does only refer to Hagrid and Harry, and is bad English.
                – Guy G
                Oct 4 at 9:56




                I absolutely agree with what you're saying, but I think that in this case it does only refer to Hagrid and Harry, and is bad English.
                – Guy G
                Oct 4 at 9:56




                1




                1




                No. 'led him' sounds like Harry didn't know the way. 'Led them' simply means (in this context) that Hagrid went first, with Harry behind.
                – Strawberry
                Oct 4 at 10:39




                No. 'led him' sounds like Harry didn't know the way. 'Led them' simply means (in this context) that Hagrid went first, with Harry behind.
                – Strawberry
                Oct 4 at 10:39












                Being 'out of your mind' and 'beside yourself' don't make any sense in a related context but are still in use. Ms Rowling's use is quirky but not unheard of. She has a rather colloquial, writing-like-you-speak style.
                – mcalex
                Oct 4 at 20:35




                Being 'out of your mind' and 'beside yourself' don't make any sense in a related context but are still in use. Ms Rowling's use is quirky but not unheard of. She has a rather colloquial, writing-like-you-speak style.
                – mcalex
                Oct 4 at 20:35




                2




                2




                This answer assumes that only the first definition of "lead" is relevant. To my ear, this sentence sounds much closer to definition 3, "be in charge or command of". That is, there was a group consisting of two people (Hagrid and Harry), and Hagrid was acting as the leader of that group.
                – David
                Oct 4 at 23:40




                This answer assumes that only the first definition of "lead" is relevant. To my ear, this sentence sounds much closer to definition 3, "be in charge or command of". That is, there was a group consisting of two people (Hagrid and Harry), and Hagrid was acting as the leader of that group.
                – David
                Oct 4 at 23:40




                1




                1




                People can lead themselves. Why not? Judges "direct" themselves. bing.com/search?q=%22judge+directed+himself%22
                – Ben
                2 days ago




                People can lead themselves. Why not? Judges "direct" themselves. bing.com/search?q=%22judge+directed+himself%22
                – Ben
                2 days ago










                up vote
                3
                down vote













                In your example




                them




                means both Harry and Hagrid, the sentence has an implicit both




                led them (both) through the bar




                in the same way




                The fire he made, kept them (both) warm.




                which includes the person who made the fire.






                share|improve this answer






















                • but more later context seemingly only involved two persons, Hagrid and Harry. no others had been mentioned at all.
                  – dan
                  Oct 4 at 1:24










                • @dan Thanks, I've edited my answer.
                  – Peter
                  Oct 4 at 1:39














                up vote
                3
                down vote













                In your example




                them




                means both Harry and Hagrid, the sentence has an implicit both




                led them (both) through the bar




                in the same way




                The fire he made, kept them (both) warm.




                which includes the person who made the fire.






                share|improve this answer






















                • but more later context seemingly only involved two persons, Hagrid and Harry. no others had been mentioned at all.
                  – dan
                  Oct 4 at 1:24










                • @dan Thanks, I've edited my answer.
                  – Peter
                  Oct 4 at 1:39












                up vote
                3
                down vote










                up vote
                3
                down vote









                In your example




                them




                means both Harry and Hagrid, the sentence has an implicit both




                led them (both) through the bar




                in the same way




                The fire he made, kept them (both) warm.




                which includes the person who made the fire.






                share|improve this answer














                In your example




                them




                means both Harry and Hagrid, the sentence has an implicit both




                led them (both) through the bar




                in the same way




                The fire he made, kept them (both) warm.




                which includes the person who made the fire.







                share|improve this answer














                share|improve this answer



                share|improve this answer








                edited Oct 4 at 1:37

























                answered Oct 4 at 1:16









                Peter

                59.6k351105




                59.6k351105











                • but more later context seemingly only involved two persons, Hagrid and Harry. no others had been mentioned at all.
                  – dan
                  Oct 4 at 1:24










                • @dan Thanks, I've edited my answer.
                  – Peter
                  Oct 4 at 1:39
















                • but more later context seemingly only involved two persons, Hagrid and Harry. no others had been mentioned at all.
                  – dan
                  Oct 4 at 1:24










                • @dan Thanks, I've edited my answer.
                  – Peter
                  Oct 4 at 1:39















                but more later context seemingly only involved two persons, Hagrid and Harry. no others had been mentioned at all.
                – dan
                Oct 4 at 1:24




                but more later context seemingly only involved two persons, Hagrid and Harry. no others had been mentioned at all.
                – dan
                Oct 4 at 1:24












                @dan Thanks, I've edited my answer.
                – Peter
                Oct 4 at 1:39




                @dan Thanks, I've edited my answer.
                – Peter
                Oct 4 at 1:39










                up vote
                1
                down vote













                As others have pointed out, it's obvious (but only) from the subsequent context (not published above) that 'led' in this instance refers only to Hagrid and Harry, so yes, Hagrid 'led himself'.






                share|improve this answer
























                  up vote
                  1
                  down vote













                  As others have pointed out, it's obvious (but only) from the subsequent context (not published above) that 'led' in this instance refers only to Hagrid and Harry, so yes, Hagrid 'led himself'.






                  share|improve this answer






















                    up vote
                    1
                    down vote










                    up vote
                    1
                    down vote









                    As others have pointed out, it's obvious (but only) from the subsequent context (not published above) that 'led' in this instance refers only to Hagrid and Harry, so yes, Hagrid 'led himself'.






                    share|improve this answer












                    As others have pointed out, it's obvious (but only) from the subsequent context (not published above) that 'led' in this instance refers only to Hagrid and Harry, so yes, Hagrid 'led himself'.







                    share|improve this answer












                    share|improve this answer



                    share|improve this answer










                    answered Oct 4 at 9:06









                    Strawberry

                    1535




                    1535




















                        up vote
                        1
                        down vote













                        For me, whether the leader is included or not conveys the amount of authority or relevant knowledge. If a scout master leads his scouts (i.e. others) through the forest, it implies the scouts are clueless and helpless without his leadership. If a someone leads a team of researchers (i.e. is part of the team), it implies that all members are more or less equally competent, but the leader is directing their efforts.






                        share|improve this answer








                        New contributor




                        MrSparkly is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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                          up vote
                          1
                          down vote













                          For me, whether the leader is included or not conveys the amount of authority or relevant knowledge. If a scout master leads his scouts (i.e. others) through the forest, it implies the scouts are clueless and helpless without his leadership. If a someone leads a team of researchers (i.e. is part of the team), it implies that all members are more or less equally competent, but the leader is directing their efforts.






                          share|improve this answer








                          New contributor




                          MrSparkly is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                          Check out our Code of Conduct.



















                            up vote
                            1
                            down vote










                            up vote
                            1
                            down vote









                            For me, whether the leader is included or not conveys the amount of authority or relevant knowledge. If a scout master leads his scouts (i.e. others) through the forest, it implies the scouts are clueless and helpless without his leadership. If a someone leads a team of researchers (i.e. is part of the team), it implies that all members are more or less equally competent, but the leader is directing their efforts.






                            share|improve this answer








                            New contributor




                            MrSparkly is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                            Check out our Code of Conduct.









                            For me, whether the leader is included or not conveys the amount of authority or relevant knowledge. If a scout master leads his scouts (i.e. others) through the forest, it implies the scouts are clueless and helpless without his leadership. If a someone leads a team of researchers (i.e. is part of the team), it implies that all members are more or less equally competent, but the leader is directing their efforts.







                            share|improve this answer








                            New contributor




                            MrSparkly is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                            Check out our Code of Conduct.









                            share|improve this answer



                            share|improve this answer






                            New contributor




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                            answered 2 days ago









                            MrSparkly

                            111




                            111




                            New contributor




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                            New contributor





                            MrSparkly is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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