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The Grammar Business Part Two

The Grammar Business Part Two. 5. Reflexive pronouns: when not to use them. Reflexive pronouns are. myself yourself himself/herself itself yourselves ourselves themselves. They refer back to the subject of the sentence. I am not so sure myself .

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The Grammar Business Part Two

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  1. The Grammar BusinessPart Two 5. Reflexive pronouns: when not to use them

  2. Reflexive pronouns are • myself • yourself • himself/herself • itself • yourselves • ourselves • themselves

  3. They refer back to the subject of the sentence • I am not so sure myself. • Sheherself has no idea who her father is. • He dressed himself carefully. • We didn’t arrive ourselves until much, much later. • You think I’m beautiful? You’re beautiful yourself.

  4. Common error • Using the reflexive pronoun instead of the personal pronoun as the object of the sentence • e.g. He gave it to myself • Which should be “He gave it to me.”

  5. So it’s wrong to say • Jane was very sure of myself • It doesn’t make sense. • Jane can be sure of herself, but not of myself. • The reflexive pronoun has to agree with the subject of the sentence, which in this case, is Jane.

  6. It is correct to say • Jane was very sure of herself - and very sure of me. • She was fooling herself actually, but she wasn’t fooling me. • That’s what I told myself at the time. • Later, it transpired that we had both, to some extent, been deceiving ourselves.

  7. And it is correct to say • My friend and I went out on Saturday. But not • My friend and myself went out on Saturday.

  8. What’s wrong with this one? • He gave a cheque to her and to myself.

  9. It should be • He gave a cheque to her and to me.

  10. Correct the following sentences, then compare what you’ve got with the answers on the next slide • He hit her, but neither myself, nor Jeremy. • The Prime Minister has informed myself of the seriousness of the situation. • The slug has slimed itself and myself too. • The King and myself are delighted to meet yourselves. • He has informed himself but not yourselves of the situation.

  11. Answers below • He hit her, but neither me, nor Jeremy. • The Prime Minister has informed me of the seriousness of the situation. • The slug has slimed itself and me too. • The King and I are delighted to meet you. • He has informed himself but not you of the situation.

  12. Health warning: • grammatical rules tend to change through common usage • in speech, it is becoming more common to use the reflexive pronoun (myself) instead of the personal pronoun (me) to add emphasis • so • you may well hear: “The offer was extended to myself.” • but don’t write it!

  13. If this still confuses you • try the exercise on Handout Five • (go on yoursel’ son!)

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