| 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.
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| 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).
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| 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?
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| 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 =! 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.)
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