English Grammar in Use With Answers » Unit 82: Myself/yourself/themselves etc.

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.

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).

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?

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 =! 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.)

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

  • blame
  • burn
  • enjoy
  • express
  • hurt
  • introduce
  • put
  1. Steve to the other guests at the party.
  2. Ben fell down some steps, but fortunately he didn't __________ .
  3. It isn't Sue's fault. She really shouldn't __________ .
  4. Please try and understand how I feel. __________ in my position.
  5. The children had a great time at the beach. They really __________ .
  6. Be careful! That pan is very hot. Don't __________ .
  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. Amy had a great holiday. She enjoyed .
  2. It's not my fault. You can't blame __________ .
  3. What I did was really bad. I'm ashamed of __________ .
  4. We've got a problem. I hope you can help __________ in my position.
  5. 'Can I take another biscuit?' 'Of course. Help __________ !'
  6. You must meet Sarah. I'll introduce __________ to her.
  7. Don't worry about us. We can take care of __________ .
  8. Don't worry about the children. I'll take care of __________ .
  9. I gave them a key to our house so that they could let __________ in.

82.3 Complete these sentences. Use myself/yourself etc. only where necessary. Use these verbs (in the correct form):

  • concentrate
  • defend
  • dry
  • feel
  • meet
  • shave
  • relax
  1. Martin decided to grow a beard because he was fed up with .
  2. I wasn't very well yesterday, but I __________ much better today.
  3. I climbed out of the swimming pool and __________ with a towel.
  4. I tried to study, but I couldn't __________ .
  5. If somebody attacks you, you need to be able to __________ .
  6. I'm going out with Chris this evening. We're __________ at 7.30.
  7. You're always rushing around. Why don't you sit down and __________ ?

82.4 Complete the sentences with ourselves/themselves or each other.

  1. How long have you and Ben known (1) ?
  2. If people work too hard, they can make (2) __________ ill.
  3. I need you and you need me. We need (3) __________ .
  4. In Britain friends often give (4) __________ presents at Christmas.
  5. Some people are very selfish. They only think of (5) __________ .
  6. Tracy and I don't see (6) __________ very often these days.
  7. We couldn't get back into the house. We had locked (7) __________ out.
  8. They've had an argument. They're not speaking to (8) __________ at the moment.
  9. We'd never met before, so we introduced (9) __________ to (10) __________ .

82.5 Complete the answers to the questions using myself/yourself/itself etc.

  1. Who repaired the bike for you?
    Nobody. I .
  2. Who cuts Brian's hair for him?
    Nobody. He cuts __________ .
  3. Do you want me tell Amy about your idea?
    No, I'll __________ .
  4. Who told you that Linda was going away?
    Linda __________ .
  5. Can you phone John for me?
    Why can't you __________ ?

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