B1 Intermediate Verb patterns, future forms, reflexives
Reflexive pronouns
Lesson goal. After this lesson you can use myself, yourself, himself… correctly, tell them from each other, and avoid overusing them.
When to use it
- When subject and object are the same person: She cut herself.
- Emphasising you did it yourself: I made this cake myself.
- by + reflexive = alone: He lives by himself.
- each other for mutual actions: They help each other.
Form
| Subject | Reflexive | Example |
|---|---|---|
| I | myself | I taught myself English. |
| you (one person) | yourself | Did you do it yourself? |
| he · she · it | himself · herself · itself | He hurt himself. |
| we | ourselves | We enjoyed ourselves. |
| you (several people) | yourselves | Help yourselves! |
| they | themselves | They blamed themselves. |
Step by step
- Ask: is the receiver of the action the subject itself?
- Yes → use the reflexive matching the subject.
- If two people act on each other → use each other.
- To say alone → use by + reflexive.
When NOT to use a reflexive
| Verb | Wrong | Correct |
|---|---|---|
| feel | I feel myself tired. | I feel tired. |
| wash, dress, shave | I wash myself every day. | I wash every day. |
| relax, concentrate | Please relax yourself. | Please relax. |
| meet (each other) | We met ourselves. | We met each other. |
Examples
She cut herself while she was cooking.
I made this dress myself.
We really enjoyed ourselves at the party.
He taught himself to play the guitar.
Help yourselves to some cake, everyone!
Nam and Lan write to each other every week.
Common mistakes
I feel myself tired today. → I feel tired today.
feel takes no reflexive. Vietnamese includes a reflexive word here, so learners translate it across.
They enjoyed theirselves at the concert. → They enjoyed themselves at the concert.
There is no theirselves in English. The form is themselves.
Nam and Lan looked at themselves and smiled. → Nam and Lan looked at each other and smiled.
The meaning is that they looked at one another, not each at their own reflection.
Memory tip
Picture arrows. An arrow curving back to the subject → reflexive. Two arrows crossing between two people → each other.
Summary
- Singular -self, plural -selves; theirselves does not exist.
- each other for mutual actions.
- feel, wash, dress, relax take no reflexive.
Practise this lesson
Do exercises with an explanation for every question, take mini tests and track your progress on GrammUp.