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Reflexive pronouns in English: rules of use and examples. Pronoun myself in English

Reflexive pronouns are formed by adding to possessive pronouns My, our, your, personal pronouns Him, her, it, them And indefinite pronoun One graduation -self(singular) and -selves(in plural):

1 Reflexive pronouns are used In addition function after some verbs. In Russian they correspond to:

A) Particle -sya (-sya), which, joining verbs, gives them a reflexive meaning, showing that the action passes to itself actor(subject of sentence):

Russians reflexive verbs with meaning Mutual action usually translated English verb without a pronoun (reflexive or mutual):

B) reflexive pronoun Himself (himself, himself):

After Intransitive verbs they are used with a preposition (prepositional object):

Please note that in all the examples given, it is possible to put myself: Himself, himself and so on.

If before Yourself (yourself) meaning it is impossible to put a pronoun Myself, then in English language not a reflexive pronoun, but a personal pronoun is used:

2 After some verbs:

reflexive pronouns Usually omitted, if there is no need to emphasize that the person did it himself:

3 Reflexive pronouns are used in a number of common expressions:

Intensifying pronouns have the same form as reflexive pronouns. They are used with nouns or personal pronouns to enhance their meaning. In meaning, they correspond to the Russian pronoun myself (self, self, self). They can stand both at the end of the sentence and after the word, the meaning of which is strengthened:

Combined with the preceding preposition ( All) By these pronouns can mean:

A) What this person performs the action completely independently, without anyone's help:

B) after intransitive verbs turnover (all) By myself (Himself, etc.) can matter (at all) Alone, alone(= on one's own; alone):

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We use reflexive pronouns correctly

Consider when you need to use reflexive pronouns with examples. And remember that there are many exceptions to any rules, so be sure to study everything with examples. So, reflexive pronouns have their place in the sentence. Consider when you need to use reflexive pronouns with examples.

Next to verbs, when both objects and subjects refer to a verb representing the same person.

Examples

Will you please be so kind to introduce yourself? => Can you please introduce yourself?

Don't touch it! You can burn yourself! => Don't touch it! You can get burned!

My brother is trying to teach himself Spanish => My brother is trying to learn Spanish.

With the preposition by, which expresses the meaning of ‘’one, himself’’. But ... there are two points:

If the situation implies that someone is doing something on his own, alone, then you can use a synonym (in English -> on one's own = on your own, by yourself).

In the combination ‘’reflexive pronoun + preposition by’’, the meaning can be such that the person performs the action on his own, without any help.

Examples

I will try to do it by myself => I will try to do it myself (without outside help)

Are you going to spend a week on this island by yourself (on your own)? Take me with you! => Are you going to spend a week alone on this island? Take me with you!

When there are expressions => behave yourself, amuse oneself, help yourself, find oneself, enjoy yourself, do it yourself, take care of oneself, pinch oneself

Suddenly I find myself looking straight at his eyes =>

But =>

I found myself alone in the broken car => I found myself alone in a broken car.

Be so kind to make yourself comfortable and help yourself to the cookies => Be so kind to make yourself comfortable and help yourself to the cookies.

After the death of my relatives, I have to take care of myself => After the death of my relatives, I have to take care of myself.

Notice how reciprocating pronouns are used in English =>

We prepared ourselves the homework => We prepared our own homework.

I have coped with it myself => I coped with it myself.

The articles themselves weren't capturing at all => The articles themselves weren't capturing at all.

The meeting itself was really amazing! => The meeting itself was really very exciting.

By regularly doing exercises (exercises), you will very quickly understand the difference.

Reflexive pronouns in English

Reflexive pronouns cope with the role of not one member of the sentence, but several.

Interesting sentences with translation =>

He is being amusing himself => He amuses himself => (direct object function)

Her brothers are not quite themselves today => Her brothers are not quite themselves today (as a predicative)

I will try to cope with my problems myself => I will try to cope with my problems myself (in the circumstance function)

Her grandma works for herself => Her grandma works for herself (as an indirect object)

How could they show the dark part of themselves in front of her? => How could they show their dark sides? (in the definition function).

On a note! Never neglect translation! It will help you better understand the rule and study it in detail! Translation is especially important for beginners.

Summing up

When learning English, reflexive pronouns should be high on your list of lessons. You will find in the eyes of the interlocutor the image of a well-read and smart person if you express your thoughts correctly. Such pronouns are represented by a small group of words, so learning them is not difficult. Do exercises (exercises) and enrich your knowledge.

Remember: high mountain obeys the one who confidently moves forward step by step. Do not skip a single step, not a single lesson. As they say, drop by drop. And yet - try to combine tasks: use reflexive and other pronouns in sentences. So you can learn new things and repeat what you have already learned.

Reflexive pronouns in English - easy and simple!

We wish you pleasant communication and enjoyment of your knowledge! And we are always happy to help with that!

When we want to say that we did something ourselves, in Russian we say: I put on makeup, he cut himself, she introduced herself. In English, to talk about such actions, you need to use reflexive pronouns. In this article, we will look at:

What are reflexive pronouns and what are they
Use of reflexive pronouns in English

What are reflexive pronouns?

Reflexive pronouns show us that a person performs an action in relation to himself. Why are they returnable? Because the action is directed at the one who performs it, that is, returns to him.

In Russian, we most often show this with the help of -sya and -s, which we add to actions. For example: cut Xia(himself), introduced Xia(himself), made up camping(herself), broke camping(on its own).

In English, there are special words for this, which are formed by adding a tail to the pronouns my, your, our, them, her, him, it:

-self (if we are talking about one person/thing);
-selves (if we are talking about several people/objects).

Let's look at the table:

Singular
I I	myself me/myself
you You	yourself you/yourself
he He	himself he/himself
she she	herself she/herself
it it	itself it/itself
Plural
you You	yourselves you/yourself
they They	themselves they/themselves
we We	ourselves we ourselves / ourselves

Now let's find out when and how we use these pronouns.

Use of reflexive pronouns in English

We use reflexive pronouns in 2 cases:

1. To show that a person's action is directed at himself
For example: I got dirty with paint (dirty myself) while painting the wall.

In this case, our pronouns are put after action that a person does to himself. We translate this action into Russian by adding -sya, -sya to it or adding the word "myself". The educational scheme will be as follows:

Actor + action + reflexive pronoun

Examples:

Don't touch it, you can cut yourself.
Don't touch it, you might cut yourself (cut yourself)

She introduced herself when entered into the room.
She introduced herself (introduced herself) when she entered the room.

they warmed up themselves in the sun.
They basked (warmed themselves) in the sun.

We divided ourselves into three groups.
We divided (divided ourselves) into three groups.

2. To emphasize that the person did something on their own
For example: I painted this wall myself.

In this case, the reflexive pronoun we put:

after man who committed it;

Actor + reflexive pronoun + action + subject

at the end of a sentence , after the object in relation to which the action is performed.

Actor + action + subject + reflexive pronoun

Both options will be correct. When translating into Russian, we add the word "sam".

Examples:

I can read it myself.
I can read it myself.

We ourselves cooked the dinner.
We cooked this dinner ourselves.

He found out the truth himself.
He found out the truth himself.

They themselves do their homework.
They themselves did their homework.

Words not used with reflexive pronouns

In English, there are actions that usually do not need to be followed by a reflexive pronoun. Simply because it is so clear that they are directed at the person who commits them. For example:

dress - dress
hide - hide
wash - wash / wash
bathe - to bathe
shave - to shave
feel - feel
relax - relax

Wrong: She washed herself and dressed herself.
She washed and dressed.

Right: She washed and dressed.
She washed and dressed.

Examples:

I am feeling ill now.
I feel sick now.

He shave every week.
He shaves every week.

You should relax.
You need to relax.

However, you can use them with reflexive pronouns, in cases where you need to emphasize that the person did it himself, made an effort to do something.

Her arm is broken but she can dress herself.
Her arm is broken, but she can dress herself.

Using by with reflexive pronouns

Very often reflexive pronouns are used together with by:

by myself - one / myself
by yourself - one / yourself
by themselves - one / himself
by ourselves - one / himself
by herself - alone
by himself - one / himself
by itself - one / himself

We use this combination to say that a person doing something alone or unaided. Usually this phrase is placed at the end of the sentence.

Examples:

She cleaned the house by herself.
She cleaned the house alone.

He likes to have dinner by himself.
He likes to dine alone.

Children can't go to the cinema by themselves.
Children cannot go to the cinema alone.

I am going to live by myself.
I'm going to live alone.

So, reflexive pronouns show us that the action is directed at the one who performs it or he does it on his own. Be sure to complete the task to consolidate the theoretical knowledge gained in practice.

Reinforcement task

Translate the following sentences into English:

1. I baked this cake myself.
2. He will go to the cinema alone.
3. She hurt herself yesterday.
4. I won't be able to cook dinner alone.
5. She bought this car herself.
6. They heard it themselves.
7. He alone ate this cake.
8. I took a hot pot and burned myself.

Leave your answers in the comments below the article.

Reflexive and emphatic pronouns - Reflexive pronouns

Reflexive pronouns in English are formed according to the formulas:
1. Reflexive pronoun in unit. h = personal pronoun + self
2. Reflexive pronoun in plural. h = personal pronoun + selves

Number	Face	Reflexive pronoun	Translation
Unit	1	myself	myself, myself, myself
	2	yourself	yourself, yourself, yourself, yourself
	3	himself	himself, himself
		herself	herself, herself
		itself[?t?self]	himself, himself, himself, himself
Mn.	1	ourselves	yourself, yourself
	2	yourselves	yourself, yourself
	3	themselves[ð?m?selvz]	yourself, yourself

The use of reciprocating pronouns

1. reflexive pronouns express the direction of the action on the one who performs it.
I sluiced myself. I got drenched.
He made himself a snapshot./He made a snapshot for himself. He took a photo of himself./He took a photo of himself.
A. There are a number of verbs after which reflexive pronouns are not used (unless it is necessary to emphasize that the person performed a certain action himself):
to shave
to relax
to dress
to bathe
to hide
He shaved, bathed and dressed. He shaved, washed and dressed.
b. Reflexive pronouns are used in expressions:
Help yourself! (Help yourselves!) Help yourself! (Help yourself!)
Do it yourself! Do it yourself!
Behave yourself! Behave yourself!
enjoy yourself! Enjoy life!
Hi yourself! Hello to you too! (A way to say hello to someone back; a colloquial expression.)
and etc.
2. Emphasizing pronouns reinforce the meaning of the statement.
I wrote it myself. I myself wrote it.
She had a chance to do it herself. She had/had a chance to do it herself.

Conclusion: Reflexive pronouns in English are used to show that:
1. The object performs the action itself.
2. The object performs an action on itself.

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