Reflexive and Emphatic Pronouns

Personal	Reflexive/Emphatic
I He She It We You They	Myself Himself Herself Itself Ourselves Yourself/yourselves (sing/pl) Themselves

1. Mark made himself a sandwich. Vicky had to force herself to eat. The children locked themselves out.

(Reflexive pronouns refer to the subject, the doer of the action)

Compare: When the policeman came in, the gunman shot him. (the policeman).

When the policeman came in, the gunman shot himself. (the gunman).

2. I built this house myself. Are you doing all the painting yourselves?

She saw the Queen herself? (who ‘herself’, the Queen or she?). She herself saw the Queen.

3. Reflexivity in Russian and English is not identical:

Как Вы себя чувствуете? How do you feel? (no reflexive)

I washed, dressed, shaved and had breakfast. Please concentrate on your homework. The children hid behind a tree.

Remember! Wash, (un)dress, shave, hide, feel, concentrate, meet, relax, decide, complain, approach, wake up, worry, wonder, change, remember, adapt, sit down, move, get up, lie down, etc. I’ll go and change.

4. My friend is disabled, she can’t dress herself. The old woman is so frail that she can’t wash herself.

5. Idioms with reflexive pronouns:

He made a pig of himself at dinner. (Pigs to you – А вот фиг вам!). Speak for yourself! (говори за себя). We really enjoyed ourselves. (had a good time) Behave yourselves, children! (Behave well) Just help yourselves to sandwiches, won’t you? (Take as many as you want) Please make yourself at home. (behave as if this was your home). She lives all by herself (alone, without help). I don’t want to be left here by myself (on my own, alone). Did you do it by yourself?

6. After prepositions of place or position personal pronouns are mostly used:

1. She looked at herself in the mirror. 2) In the mirror I saw a lorry behind me. He had no money with him.

Read and translate the sentences. I will go there myself. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………. The girl bought it herself. ………………………………………………………………………………………………… He cooked himself a good meal. ………………………………………………………………………………………… The boy was very pleased with himself. ………………………………………………………………………………… The town itself is not very large. ………………………………………………………………………………………… She spoke to the pupils themselves. …………………………………………………………………………………….. Did she do the work by herself? ………………………………………………………………………………………… I myself will speak to him. ……………………………………………………………………………………………… You yourself saw what happened. ……………………………………………………………………………………….
Put in reflexive pronouns into the blanks. We found _____________in a difficult situation. You express _______________ very clearly. She bought ___________ a new dress. We boiled ___________ some eggs. He is drawing ___________ on the chalk board. The dog saw __________ in the mirror. Ann and Mary lost _________________ in the forest. It’s time you bought _________ a new coat. I cut _________ when I was sharpening the pencil. There are plenty of apples, boys. Help __________. The guests helped ___________ to the cake. I’m glad you’ve come. Make ___________ at home. Speak for _________________. They ought to be ashamed of ___________.	Put in emphatic pronouns. He __________ could not come. Give it to the girl ______________. You don’t believe the story ____________. I shall do the job __________. Why don’t you go there ___________? She made that dress ____________. We make all our clothes ______________. The teacher _ __________gave it to me. I ____________ went to the door. The Minister ____________ signed the letter. Did you see Mr. Pink _________________? If you want your work done well, do it ___________. The children ____________ prepared the dinner. We _______________ must speak to them.
Put in the correct reflexive or emphatic pronouns. The two boys hurt _______________. The door opens __________. You must play by __________today, your friends are away. The girls looked at ________ in the mirror. When we _________ heard the noise, we were frightened. Did you make the cake _____________? Jack seated _____________ at his desk to make a plan. The cat licks __________ with its tongue. The road went around and crossed ______________.	Put in the correct pronoun ( e.g. me or myself) We looked up and saw a strange animal in front of ______. Don’t tell us the answer to the puzzle. We can work it out for ____________. It’s a pity you didn’t bring your camera with ___________. Mark talked to the woman sitting next to ______________. The old man is no longer able to look after _____________. My mother likes to have all her family near ____________. To be successful in life, you must believe in ___________.

VI. Idioms with and without reflexive pronouns

Rachel and Vicky are at Mike and Harriet's party. Complete the conversation.

Put in the verbs with or without a reflexive pronoun.

Mike: Have you two (►) met (met) before?

Rachel: Yes, we have. Vicky and I are old friends.

Mike: Oh, right. Well, I hope you (►) enjoy yourselves (enjoy) tonight.

Rachel: I'm sure we will. I (1) ………………………………..(feel) just in the mood for a party.

Mike: Well, please (2) ………………………………………………………(help) to a drink. Are you OK, Vicky?

Vicky: Sorry, I've got this awful feeling that I have to do something very important, and I can't (3)…………………… (remember) what it is.

Rachel: Vicky, you (4) …………………………(worry) too much. Come on, just (5) ………………………(relax).

7. Put in emphatic pronouns.

1. Of course I know about Matthew and Emma. You told me _____________.

2. The princess ___________ visited the children in hospital.

3. The song ________________ wasn’t very good, but the title of the song became a popular phrase.

4. The visitors were welcomed to the school by the headmaster _______________.

5. The pilots ___________ are nervous of flying because of terrorist threats.

6.You all know than no one can take your decisions for you. You ___________ will have to decide.