5. Reflexive Pronouns

We use reflexive pronouns when the subject of the sentence acts and the result of his/her/its action affects him/her/it.

(The subject and the object of the verb are the same).

Mary cut herself.

The dog cut itself on the sharp metal.

We use reflexive pronouns to emphasise the subject, the doer of the action.

Karen will do the washing herself. (No one else will be involved).

We use by before the reflexive pronoun to emphasise the fact that the action is done by the subject ‘without help’.

He built that house by himself. (No one helped him.)

Reflexive Pronouns
I → myself	It → itself
you → yourself	we → ourselves
he → himself	you → yourselves
she → herself	they → themselves

Use

Note:

• We do not use reflexive pronouns with verbs like feel, concentrate, relax etc.

She feels tired today.

(NOT: She feels tired today hersetf.)

• We do not use reflexive pronouns with verbs like shave, wash, shower, etc.

My dad shaves every morning before going to work.

I showered after I got home from the beach. BUT: You dry yourself off with a towel.

• Notice the difference between themselves and each other:

Suzy and Dawn are They are looking watching themselves at each other.

on a home video.

6. Demonstratives (this/that/these/those)

We use this/these:

• for people or things near us.

This is a fish.

• for present or future situations.

He’s leaving for Paris this afternoon.

• to refer to an idea that we are about to mention.

I hate to be the one to tell you this, but your dress simply doesn’t suit you.

• to introduce people, or to introduce oneself on the phone.

Mum, these are my new friends.

“Good afternoon, Max Industries. Can I help you?”

“Yes, good afternoon. This is Kyle Stans speaking.”

• when the speaker is in or near the place he/she is referring to.

This is the worst restaurant I’ve ever been to in my life.

We use that/those:

• for people or things far away from us.

That is my chair.

• for past situations.

Remember? Our car broke down that day.

• to refer back to something mentioned before.

‘They’re getting married!’ That’s good news!’

Note: this, these, that, those are not always followed by a noun.

This is simply awful.

That is not nice.

7. Prepositions of Place – Movement

1. The books are on the table. The cat is in the basket.

2. B is next to/by/beside C. C is between B and D. A is on the left and D is on the right.

3. A is in front of B. C is behind B. D is opposite E.

4. The man came out of the house and got into the car.

5. They walked up the hill. They walked down the hill.

6. Some people say it is unlucky to walk under a ladder. The aeroplane flew over/ above the mountains.

7. The old road goes through the village but the new road goes (a)round the village.

8. She took the dog for a walk along the road. The dog swam across the river.

9. The car is opposite the traffic lights and it’s going towards the park.