Page 508 - Practical English Usage 3ed - Michael Swan, Oxford

493 reflexive pronouns
1 What are reflexive pronouns?
Reflexive pronouns are myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, oneself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves.
2 use: I cut myself shaving
A common use of reflexive pronouns is to talk about actions where the subject and object are the same person.
1 cut myselfshaving this morning. (NOT 1Cfte me ...)
We got out of the water and dried ourselves. (NOT ••• dried: tiS.) I'm going to the shops to get myselfsome tennis shoes.
Talking to oneself is the first sign of madness.
Reflexive pronouns can also refer to possessives and objects.
His letters are all about himself.
I'm going to tell her a few facts about herself. I love you for yourself, not for your money.
3 after prepositions: She took her dog with her
After prepositions of place, we often use a personal pronoun (me, you etc) if the meaning is clear without using a reflexive. Compare:
She took her dog with her. (NOT ••• with herself. She could hardly take her dog with somebody else.)
She's very pleased with herself. (She could be pleased with somebody else.) Other examples:
Close the door after you. He was pulling a small cart behind him.
4 emphatic use: Do it yourself
We can use reflexives as emphasisers, to mean 'that person/thing and nobody/ nothing else'.
It's quicker ifyou do it yourself. The manageress spoke to me herself. The house itself is nice, but the garden's very smalL
I'll go and see the President himself if I have to.
S reflexives used instead of personal pronouns
Reflexives are sometimes used instead of personal pronouns after as, like, but (/or) and except (/or).
These shoes are designed for heavy runners like yourself. (OR • • • like you.)
Everybody was early except myself. (OR ••• except me.)
Reflexives can also be used instead of personal pronouns in co-ordinated noun phrases.
There will be four of us at dinner: Robert, Alison, Jenny and myself (OR ••• and lime.)
People often feel that these uses are fussy - too exact and unnecessary.
6 by oneself
By myself/yourselfetc means 'alone, without company' or 'without help'. I often like to spend time by myself.
Do you need help?- No, thanks. I can do it by myself.
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