Supplementary Material

USING REFLEXIVE PRONOUNS

(Supplementary Material for Beta Upper Module)

Reflexive pronouns are words which are placed after certain verbs to refer to the same person or thing mentioned in the subject. The Reflexive Pronouns are : SINGULAR PLURAL

myself yourself himself herself itself Some verbs which take a reflexive pronoun are: apply exert blame express distance introduce enjoy free

ourselves yourselves themselves themselves themselves

excel kill

We use reflexive pronouns: a) to make clear that the object of a verb is the same person as the subject You have to apply yourself to work if you want to get better results. She always cooks well, but this time she really excelled herself.

Examples:

b)

to show emphasis. This means to stress the importance of the person or thing mentioned in the sentence. In this case the reflexive pronoun normally goes immediately after the subject. The queen herself gave him the medal. The manager himself answered the phone.

Examples:

Note that : The queen (the subject) is followed immediately by the reflexive pronoun. c) to emphasize that a person does something without help or alone. This is done by adding the preposition by + Reflexive Pronoun. I dont like to go shopping alone. I dont like to go shopping by myself. Do you think he can do this without help? Do you think he can do this by himself?

Examples:

Supplementary Material
Exercise 1: Supply the necessary reflexive pronoun. All the examples given are of the reflexive use type. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. They will have to exert ________________ a lot to overcome this problem. My son needs to adapt ________________ to his new schedule at school. I was relieved to hear that the boys behaved ________________ this time. I cant express ________________ very well when I am nervous. My daughter hopes to enjoy ________________ at the wedding party. You will have to explain ________________ . Why didnt you call us this morning? My little son was very tired, but still managed to undress ______________ before falling asleep. All of us shook hands and introduced _____________ at the party. When you were a child you always had to wash ___________ after playing. Please dont fool (a)_________________ . Do you really think you can do it?

Exercise 2:

Provide the necessary reflexive pronoun, to give emphasis to a person or thing mentioned in the sentence.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11.

The doctor ____________________ recommended the treatment. Bob said that he ____________________ saw the woman coming out of the office. The policewoman ____________________ shot the criminal. They____________________ must find a solution as soon as possible. Im afraid I____________________ will have to do it. We ____________________ made the offer to buy the company. Sue ____________________ mailed the postcard. They ____________________ will raise the funds for the campaign. Amazingly, the truck ____________________ was undamaged. I ____________________ suggested that restaurant. The maid ____________________ went up the ladder and fixed the roof.

Supplementary Material
Exercise 3: Write the same idea again substituting the word alone or without help for the preposition by and the required reflexive pronoun. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. Doris prefers to do her homework alone. Vincent plans to visit Europe alone. Does your sister prefer to study alone? You went to the concert alone. My uncle doesnt like to spend too much time alone. The boys will cut the grass without help. The student cant finish his work alone. This old lady sits alone and stares out of the window. I dont like to live alone in this dark apartment. Its not a good idea to let her do it alone. My daughter made this cake without any help. I am sure you can do this without any help.

KEY CHECK
EXERCISE 1. EXERCISE 2. 1) themselves 6) yourself 2) himself 7) himself 3) themselves 8) ourselves 3) herself 8) themselves 4) myself 9) yourself 4) themselves 9) itself 5) herself 10) yourself 5) myself 10) myself

1) himself/herself 2) himself 6) ourselves 7) herself 11) herself

EXERCISE 3.

1) Doris prefers to do her homework by herself. 2) Vincent plans to make a trip to Europe by himself. 3) Does your sister prefer to study by herself? 4) You went to the concert by yourself. 5) My uncle doesnt spend too much time by himself. 6) The boys will cut the grass by themselves. 7) The student cant finish his work by himself. 8) The old lady sits by herself and stares out of the window. 9) I dont like to live by myself in this dark apartment. 10) It isnt a good idea to let her do it by herself. 11) My daughter made this cake by herself. 12) I am sure you can do this by yourself.