Reflexive Pronouns

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

Reflexive Pronouns are used:

Reflexive Pronouns are not used:

when the subject and the object of a sentence are the same. Be careful with the gas cooker! You may burn yourself cooking dinner. He is angry with himself. in set expressions. I must say I'm really enjoying myself at the moment. (= I'm having a good time.) Help yourself to some more coffee. (Take some more coffee for yourself.) with by to express “alone”, “without help” I don't live by myself. I share a flat with two friends. You can't move this table by yourself. It's too heavy. to emphasize “that person, nobody else” The manager himself is going to tell me the news.

after feel, relax, concentrate. I feel fine. (Not: ... feel myself fine.) I must try to relax. (Not: ... relax myself). I can't concentrate. (Not: ... concentrate myself) to talk about actions which people usually do to themselves. I get at about 7 o'clock, wash, shave and dress. (Not: ... wash myself, etc.) BUT: He never dries himself when he gets out of the bath. NOTE: For special emphasis we can use reflexive pronouns after wash, dress, etc. He's still very ill but he can wash and dress himself

Exercise 29. Complete the sentences with reflexive pronouns.

1. Be careful! Don't hurt __.

2. I'm often displeased with __.

3. Doris doesn't love anyone. She's in love with __.

4. Jim's test paper is the best. He's proud of __.

5. Tim, the cake is delicious. Please, help __.

6. I want to speak to the director __, not his secretary.

7. The idea __ is very interesting.

8. Sue's children are too young to look after __.

9. When we go to a party, we always enjoy __.

Exercise 30.Rewrite the sentences with by + a reflexive pronoun.

Example: Don't go out alone! - Don't go out by yourself!

1. Many old people live alone.

2. What's going on? Every time I see you, you are alone!

3. "Now that our children are at college," says Mrs Taylor, "we live alone."

4. Little Liz has got no brothers or sisters. She often plays alone.

5. Jack likes going to the cinema alone.

6. Sometimes I don't want to see anybody. I want to be alone.

Themselves/ourselves vs. Each other/one another

Sue and I can take care of ourselves. (= Sue can take care of herself and I can take care of myself.)	Sue and I can take care of each other. (= Sue can take care of me and I can take care of her.)
Each other (for two people or things) Chris and Sue often help each other.	One another for two people or things They are looking at one other.
	for more than two people or things We should all try to help one another.

Exercise 31. Write sentences with each other or one another.

Example: William and Debby understand each other/one another very well.

1. My pen friend and I write to __ every month.

2. They are good friends. They like __ very much.

3. Mike and Sue phone __ every evening.

4. You and your friends often give __ presents.

5. We seldom agree with __.

6. Many countries are competing with __.

Exercise 32. Complete the sentences with reflexive pronouns each other/one another or bу + a reflexive pronoun or -.

1. You are so dirty! Look at __ in the mirror.

2. The town __ is so small that it doesn't even have a bank.

3. I don't need his company. I want to go out __.

4. When they go on holiday they always enjoy __.

5. He's only 2 years old but he can dress __.

6. Kelly and Albert study at the same college but they seldom see __.

7. When Klod and Jenny go to a student pub she often pays for __.

8. You can't go to the mountains __. It's too dangerous.