Reflexive pronouns

English doesn’t really have reflexive verbs the way that many other languages do.
However, when the same person is the subject and object of the verb we usually use
a reflexive pronoun.
Example:
- I cut myself shaving this morning.

The subject – I – is also the object of the sentence – so we use the reflexive
pronoun, myself.

- Why don’t you buy yourself a new car? This one’s really unreliable.
- He looked at himself in the mirror.
- She taught herself Italian using a book.
- The washing machine switches itself off when it’s finished.

‘Enjoy’ is often used with a reflexive pronoun.

- Did you enjoy yourself at the party?
- From their postcard it sounds as if they’re really enjoying themselves.

‘By yourself’ means ‘alone’

- He lives by himself in a cottage by the sea.
- I’m rather anti-social. I love being by myself.

Reflexive pronouns can also be used with nouns to mean ‘Me (or you/him/her etc) and
nobody else’
- Did you do this homework yourself or did you get help?
- Did you talk to the manageress herself or just to one of her assistants?
- They looked at themselves in the mirror. 
Singular Reflexive pronouns are:
Myself – yourself – himself – herself – itself.

Plural reflexive pronouns are:

Ourselves – yourselves – themselves.

We use a reflexive pronoun:

• as a direct object when the object is the same as the subject of the verb:
- I am teaching myself to play the piano.
- Be careful with that knife.  You might cut yourself.
-
We can use a reflexive pronoun as direct object with most transitive verbs, but these are the most
common:

amuse blame cut dry enjoy help

hurt introduce kill prepare satisfy teach

Some verbs change their meaning slightly when they have a reflexive pronoun as direct
object:
Would you like to help yourself to another drink?
= Would you like to take another drink.
I wish the children would behave themselves.
 = I wish the children would behave well.
He found himself lying by the side of the road.
= He was surprised when he realised that he was at the side of the road.

We do not use a reflexive pronoun after verbs which describe things people usually do for
themselves, such as wash, shave, dress:
- He washed [himself] in cold water.
- He always shaved [himself] before going out in the evening.
- Michael dressed [himself] and got ready for the party.
 - We only use reflexives with these verbs for emphasis:
- He dressed himself  in spite of his injuries.
- She’s old enough to wash herself.

• as indirect object when the indirect object is the same as the subject of the verb:

- Would you like to pour yourself a drink.
- We’ve brought ourselves something to eat.

• as the object of a preposition when the object refers to the subject of the clause:

- They had to cook  for themselves.
- He was feeling very sorry  for himself.

I.- Complete with the appropriate reflexive pronoun.

1. I did not want to believe it and then I saw the UFO ____________________.

2. The girl looked at ____________________ in the mirror.

3. Freddy, you'll have to do your homework _____________________.

4. You don't need to help them. They can do it ________________________.

5. I introduced ____________________ to my new neighbour.

6. Boys, can you make your beds ___________________?

7. She made ________________ a pullover.

8. What happens when a fighting fish sees _________________ in the mirror?

9. The father decided to repair the car _________________.

10. We can move the table_______________________ .

II.- Choose the correct alternative.

Once there was a young man who called ......... Icarus.

(a)  myself
(b)  himself
(c)  herself

His father always wanted his children to look after ......... and do what they wanted.

(a) 
themselves
(b)  ourselves
(c)  herself

The trouble was that Icarus always wanted to put ......... into danger.

(a)  herself
(b)  itself
(c)  himself

His father said again and again if we don't take care, we'd hurt ..........

(a) 
themselves
(b)  yourselves
(c)  ourselves

Icarus shocked his father with an idea that he was going to try out on ..........

(a)  himself
(b)  themselves
(c)  herself

He had watched birds fly by throwing ......... into the air.

(a)  yourselves
(b)  themselves
(c)  ourselves
His sister said she would like to push ......... into the air and fly but she was too
frightened.

(a)  itself
(b)  himself
(c)  herself

Icarus said he would try and he promised his father: I will not injure ..........

(a)  yourself
(b)  myself
(c) 
ourselves

The last words his father said before Icarus left were: Look after ..........

(a) 
yourself
(b)  himself
(c)  myself

Unfortunately Icarus went too near the sun and the wax on his wings melted and
the feathers worked ......... free and he fell on the ground and died.

(a)  itself
(b)  yourselves
(c) 
themselves
III.- Indicate whether the relative pronoun is correct or not in each sentence below. If
the sentence is incorrect, rewrite it at the bottom of the page so that it will be correct.

1. Sometimes it is hard for Dylan to tear himself away from a video game, especially when
he is close to the next level.
2. I myself enjoy Guitar Hero, but my brother prefers World of Warcraft.
3. Myself and a friend thought the President looked impressive as he took the Oath of
Office.
4. The girls kept the surprise party a secret among themselves.
5. An elderly woman defended herself from a purse snatcher on the sidewalk.
6. When I was ten, my aunt gave a copy of Super Mario to my little brother and myself.
7. It’s easy for us to imagine ourselves in a greener world. What would it take to make it
happen in real life?
8. Damián said very little himself, but his little sister never stopped talking.
9. The videographer for the soccer game was myself.
10. A video game may be seen as a metaphor for life itself. Aren’t we all playing games, in
a sense, with one another?

IV.- Write (invent) 8 sentences, each one using a different reflexive pronoun correctly.
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