reflexive pronouns

We use by + reflexive pronoun meaning without help. In this construction we
can omit “by”;
I made the cake by myself. = I made the cake myself. = I made the cake
without help.
Practice:
Complete the sentences using by + reflexive when it means ‘alone’ and the
reflexive when it means ‘without help’:
1- You have to do the homework ……………………………………………………………………
2- The teacher is in the classroom to make sure the students will do the test
…………………………………………………………….
3- Nobody taught me how to drive. I learned ……………………………………………………
4- In the US you can be arrested if you leave a baby …………………………………..
5- I can watch anything I want on TV, since I live ……………………………………………….
6- Look at this! It’s the first dress I made …………………………………………………..!
7- Although Edward is only 5, he can take a shower ……………………………………….
8- Stop bothering me! I need some minutes ………………………………………………..
9- If you have nobody to go to the prom with, just go ……………………………………………
10- Since I had no one to give me the directions, I had to get to the hotel
…………………………………………
11- There’s nobody to give me a ride. It seems I’ll have to go home ……………………
12- Stay away from me! I’m sure I can do it ………………………………………………! -4-
The reflexive pronouns can be used to demonstrate that the subject (the author
of the action) and the object (the receiver) are the same person:
When Mary looks at the mirror, she sees herself.
(The person who sees is Mary and the person who’s seen is also Mary)
Practice:
Choose the correct pronoun:
objective (author ≠ receiver) or reflexive (author = receiver)
1- Susan is talking to ……. on the phone.
a) she b) him c) himself
2- Sometimes we ask to ….. who our son takes after.

a) we b) our c) ourselves
3- You need to tell ………. what you want because we can’t guess.
a) we b) us c) ourselves
4- Every time the kids go to the park, they hurt …….
a) themselves b) they c) them
5- If you get ready fast, you can go with ……..
a) myself b) I c) me
6- I cut …….. with a knife slicing carrots.
a) me b) I c) myself
7- Ms. Williams, can I talk to ……… for a second?
a) me b) you c) yourself -1-
Reflexive pronouns can be used to give emphasis. In this case, if we omit the
reflexive pronoun, it doesn’t change the meaning of the sentence. The reflexive
normally comes after the subject that it is emphasizing.
A - I have made the cake.
B - I myself have made the cake.
The difference between sentence A and sentence B is that in sentence B the
speaker is emphasizing the fact that s/he made the cake.
Practice:
Rewrite the sentences emphasizing the author of the action:
1- The Parkers prepared everything for the reception.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
2- We have set the new DVD functions.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
3- The kids have taken a shower and now they are ready for school.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
4- Evelyn cleaned up her room.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
5- I prepared this lesson for you.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

6- The police officer caught the thief.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. -2-
We use by + reflexive pronoun meaning alone:
I live by myself. = I live alone.
Practice:
Rewrite the sentences using by + reflexive pronoun:
1- I prefer to travel by car because I like traveling alone.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
2- After the divorce, I had to learn how to live alone.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
3- If you don’t want to wait for me, I suggest that you go alone.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
4- They found a little boy walking alone on the street.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
5- If a woman doesn’t have anyone to take her to a party, I think it’s OK if she
goes alone.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
6- When Peter arrived in France, he had to go out alone because he didn’t have
any friends.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
7- Sylvie prefers to go to the gym alone and focus on the exercises.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… -3-.
Print both sides and then fold it to make a brochure.
Page 1 (cover); pages 2 and 3 (inside); page 4
Key
Page 1
1- b)
2- c)
3- b)
4- a)

5- c)
6- c)
7- b)
Page 2
1- The Parkers themselves prepared...
2- We ourselves prepared...
3- The kids themselves have taken...
4- Evelyn herself cleaned up...
5- I myself prepared
6- The police officer himself caught…
Page 3
1- ………………. by myself.
2- ……………… by myself.
3- ………………..go by yourself.
4- ………. walking by himself…..
5- …………… goes by herself.
6- ………… go out by himself…..
7- ….. go to the gym by herself…
Page 4
1- yourself / yourselves
2- themselves
3- myself
4- by itself
5- by myself
6- myself
7- himself
8- by myself
9- by yourself
10- myself
11- by myself

12- myself