A A ENGLISH GRAMMAR

Reflexive pronouns
Lesson code: 11QI-G5AD-9U8S INTERMEDIATE
British English

1 Presentation 1
Reflexive pronouns are often used when the object is the same as the subject. For example, in the
sentence "she saw herself in the mirror", she and herself refer to the same person. Study the table.

Subject pronoun Reflexive pronoun

I myself
you yourself
he himself
she herself
it itself
we ourselves
you yourselves
they themselves

Use Examples
As an object Did you enjoy yourself at the party?
He accidentally hit himself with a golf club.

After prepositions Look at that strange man talking to himself.

Did you build your website by yourself? (= alone/without help)

To emphasise the subject of I made this dish myself.

a sentence We will get there ourselves.

To emphasise a thing or I had lunch with the president himself!

person (especially someone The singer herself was at the party.
famous)

Important points
• Unlike many other languages, we do not use a reflexive pronoun after verbs which describe things
people usually do for themselves, such as wash, shave, dress: George shaves every morning.
We only use reflexives with these verbs for emphasis: Sam is old enough to dress himself.
• We use personal pronouns, not reflexives, after prepositions of place: Who is that behind you
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 Reflexive pronouns
A A A A ENGLISH GRAMMAR

(yourself)?

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 Reflexive pronouns
A A A A ENGLISH GRAMMAR

2 Practice 1
Complete each sentence using a suitable reflexive pronoun.

1. Alison baked this cake .

2. Did you build this website by ?
3. The mirror was so dirty I couldn't even see in it.
4. The boss told me not to arrive late.
5. She cut with a knife while she was doing the dishes.
6. We might hurt if we are not careful.
7. They keep telling that they are good enough to win the match, but nobody thinks they
can.
8. You are our guests, so please make at home.
9. You can pour a drink while you wait for me.
10. After moving out of their parents' house, the two brothers had to get used to cooking for
.

3 Practice 2
Look at the pictures below and make sentences using reflexive pronouns like in the example:

The boy is doing his homework by himself.

1. 2. 3.

4. 5. 6.
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 Reflexive pronouns
A A A A ENGLISH GRAMMAR

4 Presentation 2
Some verbs change their meaning slightly when they have a reflexive pronoun as direct object. Study
the table below.

Verb Examples
help Help yourself to some tea and cakes! (= Take some tea and cake.)

see I see myself as a manager in five years' time. (= I imagine that I will be a
manager in five years' time.)

find We woke up to find ourselves in the middle of a field. (= we unexpectedly

discovered that we were in the middle of a field.)
Joseph went travelling for a year. He said he wanted to find himself. (=
learn what kind of person he is and what he wants in life)

behave Try to behave yourself at your aunt's birthday party this time! (= watch your
behaviour, be careful what you say or do)

apply If you apply yourself, you should pass all your exams. (= work hard at
something)

distance The leader has tried to distance himself from the extremists in the party.
(= become or seem less involved or connected with)

express I find it hard to express myself in French. (= show my feelings or opinions)

5 Practice 3
Write your own sentence for each of the expressions in the table.

1. .......................................................................................
2. .......................................................................................
3. .......................................................................................
4. .......................................................................................
5. .......................................................................................
6. .......................................................................................
7. .......................................................................................
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