Unit : 8 society and social problems

Grammar: reported speech  and reflexive pronouns 

Reflexive pronouns

The reflexive pronouns are:
singular:myselfyourselfhimselfherselfitself
plural:ourselvesyourselvesthemselves
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 a direct object with verbs, but these are the most common:
amuse
blame
cut
dry		enjoy
help
hurt
introduce		kill
prepare
satisfy
teach
Be careful!
We do not use a reflexive pronoun after verbs which describe things people usually do for themselves:
He washed in cold water.
He always shaved before going out in the evening.
Michael dressed 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.
Level: intermediate
We use reflexive pronouns as an 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.
We use reflexive pronouns as the object of a preposition when the object is the same as the subject of the verb:
They had to cook for themselves.
He was feeling very sorry for himself.      
but we use object pronouns, not reflexives, after prepositions of place:
He had a suitcase beside him. (NOT himself)
and after with when it means accompanied by:
She had a few friends with her. (NOT herself)
We use reflexives with the preposition by:
  • to show that someone did something without any help:
The children got dressed by themselves.
I prepared the whole meal by myself.
  • to show that someone was alone:
He lived by himself in an enormous house.
She walked home by herself.
We use reflexive pronouns to emphasize the person or thing we are referring to:
Kendal itself is quite a small town.
  • especially if we are talking about someone very famous:
Sir Paul McCartney himself sang the final song.
We often put the reflexive pronoun at the end of the clause when we are using it for emphasis:

I baked the bread myself.
She mended the car herself.
Reported speech 

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