082 : myself / yourself / themselves etc.

   A   

Study this example:

 

Steve introduced himself to the other guests.

 

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

 

The reflexive pronouns are:

     singular: myself, yourself (one person), himself/herself/itself
     plural: ourselves, yourselves (more than one person), 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:

• It's not our fault. You can't blame us.
• It's our own fault. We should blame ourselves.

 

 

   B   

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

• I feel nervous. I can't relax.
• You must try and concentrate. (not concentrate yourself)
• What time shall we meet? (not meet ourselves, not meet us)

We normally use wash/shave/dress without myself etc. :

• 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 looked at Kate and Joe)
• Kate looked at Joe; 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 you and Sarah live near each other? or ... near one another?

 

 

   D   

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

• 'Who repaired your bike for you?'  'I repaired it myself.'

 

I repaired it myself = I repaired it, not anybody else. 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. Lisa herself doesn't think so. (or Lisa doesn't think so herself.)