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Unit 82 · Pronouns and determiners

myself/yourself/themselves etc.

Study

A

Steve introduced himself to the other guests.

We use myself/yourself/himself etc. (reflexive pronouns) when the subject and object are the same:

Steve introduced himself
subject object

The reflexive pronouns are:

singular (-self) myself yourself (one person) himself/herself/itself
plural (-selves) ourselves yourselves (more than one) themselves
›

I don't want you to pay for me. I'll pay for myself. (not I'll pay for me)

›

Amy had a great holiday. She really enjoyed herself.

›

Do you talk to yourself sometimes? (said to one person)

›

If you want more to eat, help yourselves. (said to more than one person)

Compare:

›

Lisa introduced me to the other guests.

›

I introduced myself to the other guests.

B

We do not use myself etc. after feel/relax/concentrate/meet:

›

I feel nervous. I can't relax.

›

You need to concentrate. (not concentrate yourself)

›

What time shall we meet tomorrow?

Normally we do not use myself etc. after wash/shave/dress:

›

He got up, washed, shaved and dressed. (not washed himself etc.)

You can also say get dressed (He got dressed).

C

Compare -selves and each other:

›

Kate and Joe stood in front of the mirror and looked at themselves. (= Kate and Joe together looked at Kate and Joe)

›

Kate looked at Joe, and Joe looked at Kate. They looked at each other.

You can use one another instead of each other:

›

How long have you and Ben known each other? or … known one another?

›

Sue and Alice don't like each other. or … don't like one another.

›

Do they live near each other? or … near one another?

D

We also use myself/yourself etc. in another way. For example:

›

'Who repaired your bike?' 'I repaired it myself.'

I repaired it myself = I repaired it, not another person. Here, myself is used to emphasise 'I' (= it makes it stronger). Some more examples:

›

I'm not going to do your work for you. You can do it yourself. (= you, not me)

›

Let's paint the house ourselves. It will be much cheaper.

›

The film itself wasn't very good, but I loved the music.

›

I don't think Lisa will get the job she applied for. Lisa doesn't think so herself. or Lisa herself doesn't think so.

→ get dressed / get married etc. ➜ Unit 44D · by myself / by yourself etc. ➜ Unit 83D

Exercises (5)

0/5 exercises checked
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82.1

Complete the sentences using myself/yourself etc. + these verbs (in the correct form):

blameburnenjoyexpresshurtintroduceput
  1. 1
    Steve to the other guests at the party.example
  2. 2
    Ben fell down some steps, but fortunately he didn't .
  3. 3
    It isn't Sue's fault. She really shouldn't .
  4. 4
    Please try and understand how I feel. You have to in my position.
  5. 5
    The children had a great time at the beach. They really .
  6. 6
    Be careful! That pan is hot. Don't .
  7. 7
    Sometimes I can't say exactly what I mean. I wish I could better.
82.2

Put in myself/yourself/ourselves etc. or me/you/us etc.

  1. 1
    Amy had a great holiday. She enjoyed .example
  2. 2
    It's not my fault. You can't blame .
  3. 3
    What I did was really bad. I'm ashamed of .
  4. 4
    We have a problem. I hope you can help .
  5. 5
    'Can I take another biscuit?' 'Of course. Help !'
  6. 6
    I want you to meet Sarah. I'll introduce to her.
  7. 7
    Don't worry about us. We can take care of .
  8. 8
    Don't worry about the children. I'll take care of .
  9. 9
    I gave them a key to our house so that they could let in.
82.3

Complete these sentences. Use myself/yourself etc. where necessary. Choose from:

concentratedefenddryenjoyfeelmeetrelaxshave
  1. 1
    Neil grew a beard because he was fed up with .example
  2. 2
    Amy had a great holiday. She herself.example
  3. 3
    I wasn't very well yesterday, but I much better today.
  4. 4
    I climbed out of the swimming pool and with a towel.
  5. 5
    I tried to study, but I couldn't .
  6. 6
    If somebody attacks you, you have the right to .
  7. 7
    I'm going out with Chris this evening. We're at 7.30.
  8. 8
    You're always rushing. Why don't you sit down and ?
82.4

Complete the sentences with ourselves/themselves or each other.

  1. 1
    How long have you and Ben known ?example
  2. 2
    If people work too hard, they can make ill.
  3. 3
    I need you and you need me. We need .
  4. 4
    In Britain friends often give presents at Christmas.
  5. 5
    Some people are selfish. They only think of .
  6. 6
    Tracy and I don't see very often these days.
  7. 7
    We couldn't get back into the house. We had locked out.
  8. 8
    They've had an argument. Now they're not speaking to .
  9. 9
    We'd never met before, so we to .
82.5

Complete the sentences using myself/yourself etc. Use the verb in brackets.

  1. 1
    'Who repaired the bike for you?' 'Nobody. I it .' (repair)example
  2. 2
    I didn't buy this cake from a shop. I it . (make)
  3. 3
    'Who told you Laura was going away?' 'Laura .' (tell)
  4. 4
    I don't know what they're going to do. I don't think they . (know)
  5. 5
    'Who cuts Paul's hair for him?' 'Nobody. He .' (cut)
  6. 6
    'Can you phone Sam for me?' 'Why can't you ?' (do)