Reflexive Pronouns

Listen to four conversations using the grammar point.
Reflexive Pronouns

Reflexive Pronouns

Hear four conversations using this grammar point for free on elllo.org

Answer the following questions about the interview.

Reflexive Pronouns

Point 1: Reflexive pronouns appear when the object pronoun is the same as the subject pronoun.
  1. I told myself a lie.
  2. You are too hard on yourself.
  3. She is too critical of herself.
  4. He sent himself a copy by email.
  5. The batter charges itself.
  6. You guys always outdo yourselves.
  7. They always talk about themselves.
  8. We are disappointed in ourselves.
Point 2: The reflexive pronoun can only he the object of a very or Aprepostion.

After Verb

  1. I hate myself for eating that cake.
  2. She hurt herself playing hockey.

After Preposition

  1. He is very demanding of himself.
  2. She took a photo of herself.
Point 3: Notice that singular pronouns and plural pronouns have different spellings (-self vs. selves)
  1. He loves to be by himself.
  2. A gym membership pays for itself in health benefits.
  3. They often argue amongst themselves.
  4. We found ourselves in big trouble!
Point 4: The pronoun "you" can be both singular and plural, so it has two different spellings for reflexive pronouns.

Talking to one person

  1. Help yourself.
  2. Give yourself enough time to get there.

Talking to more than one person

  1. Help yourselves.
  2. Give yourselves enough time to get there.
Point 5: The reflexive pronoun is used in many idiomatic expressions.
  1. You outdid yourself. (You did an amazing job!)
  2. I treated myself to a new coat. (I bought at gift for myself)
  3. I live by myself. (I live alone)
  4. Don't hurt yourself. (Be careful)
Point 6: The pronoun "oneself" is used to talk about people in general when there is no specific person to reference.
  1. Be good to oneself.
  2. It is important to love oneself.
  3. It is never good to be hard on oneself.
  4. It is vital to take care of oneself.
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