Pronouns/Reflexive Pronouns

Die Reflexivpronomen (–self und –selves) werden verwendet, um zu sagen oder auch um zu betonen, dass jemand selbst oder allein etwas tut oder getan hat (emphatic use).

You needn’t help me. I can do this myself.

Can you really move all those boxes yourself?

	singular (Einzahl)	plural (Mehrzahl)
1st person	myself	ourselves
2nd person	yourself	yourselves
3rd person	himself, herself, itsself	themselves

Die Pronomen auf –self, -selves werden zusammen mit einigen Verben auch gebraucht, um auszudrücken, dass jemand etwas für sich (selbst) tut oder sich (selbst) antut (reflexive use).

I always cut myself with that stupid knife.

She has hurt herself.

Our cat cleans itself every day.

Achtung

Viele Verben, die im Deutschen mit sich ...en verwendet werden, benötigen im Englischen kein Reflexivpronomen:

I apologized to her.

We met at the station.

im Deutschen rückbezüglich – im Englischen nicht rückbezüglich!

to apologize – to argue – to change – to complain – to concentrate - to feel – to hide – to hurry (up) – to imagine – to lie down – to meet – to move – to open – to refer to - to refuse ( to) - to relax – to remember – to sit down – to turn round – to wonder – to worry –

each other

Im Englischen wird unterschieden, ob man sich selbst oder sich gegenseitig anschaut.

They looked at themselves and laughed.

They looked at each other happily!

Interactive exercises

myself, yourself, etc

Complete each sentence using myself/yourself etc. with one of these verbs:

a. George cut himself while he was shaving this morning.

b. Bill fell down some steps but fortunately he didn't hurt himself badly.

c. Dinner is ready! Help yourself.

d. It isn't her fault. She really shouldn't blame herself.

e. Please try and understand how I feel putting yourself in my position.

f. They had a great time. They really enjoyed themselves.

g. Be careful! That pan is very hot. Don't burn yourself.

h. Sometimes I can't say exactly what I mean. I wish I could express myself better.

2. Complete the answers to the questions using myself/yourself/itself etc.

a. Who repaired the bicycle for you? Nobody. I repaired it myself().

b. Did Tom have his hair cut by a hairdresser? No, he cut it himself(). c. Do you want me to post that letter for you? No, I'll do it myself().

d. Who told you that Lara was getting married? She did it herself().

e. Can you phone John for me? Why can't you do it yourself()?

a. Who repaired the bicycle for you? Nobody. I repaired it myself().

b. Did Tom have his hair cut by a hairdresser? No, he cut it himself().

c. Do you want me to post that letter for you? No, I'll do it myself().

d. Who told you that Lara was getting married? She did it herself().

e. Can you phone John for me? Why can't you do it yourself()?

with plural forms

Complete the conversation. Put in myself, yourself, himself herself itself, ourselves or themselves.

Tim: What was the party like yesterday, Kim? Did you enjoy yourself()

Kim: There were lots of nice people. We all enjoyed ourselves()

Tim: Have you looked at yourself() in the mirror? You look really tired.

Kim: I can look after myself(). You know, the party itself() was a bit boring, but there were two magicians, a man and a woman, who were quite good. They called themselves() 'The Merlins'. When the man was showing his tricks, he was talking to himself() quietly. It sounded funny. And the woman cut herself() in the arm.

Tim: Did she really injure herself()?

Kim: No, it was just a trick but it looked real.

Tim: Strange idea! Was Mary there, too?

Kim: Yes, she came with a boy called Jake. He works at a bank and seems to be very proud of himself(). He goes to a fitness studio every day to keep himself() fit.

Tim: I enjoyed myself() at home yesterday. I' ve made a new computer game all by myself(). Would you like to look at it?

Kim: Yes, please! You don't need a party to enjoy yourself(), do you?

Tim: What was the party like yesterday, Kim? Did you enjoy yourself()

Kim: There were lots of nice people. We all enjoyed ourselves()

Tim: Have you looked at yourself() in the mirror? You look really tired.

Kim: I can look after myself(). You know, the party itself() was a bit boring, but there were two magicians, a man and a woman, who were quite good. They called themselves() 'The Merlins'. When the man was showing his tricks, he was talking to himself() quietly. It sounded funny. And the woman cut herself() in the arm.

Tim: Did she really injure herself()?

Kim: No, it was just a trick but it looked real.

Tim: Strange idea! Was Mary there, too?

Kim: Yes, she came with a boy called Jake. He works at a bank and seems to be very proud of himself(). He goes to a fitness studio every day to keep himself() fit.

Tim: I enjoyed myself() at home yesterday. I' ve made a new computer game all by myself(). Would you like to look at it?

Kim: Yes, please! You don't need a party to enjoy yourself(), do you?

reflexive or personal pronoun?

Put in myself/yourself/ourselves etc. or object pronouns like me/you/us etc.

a. Julia had a great holiday. She enjoyed herself().

b. It's not my fault. You can't blame me().

c. What I did was very wrong. I'm ashamed of myself().

d. We've got a problem. I hope you can help us().

e. 'Can I take another biscuit?' 'Of course. Help yourself()!'

f. Take some money with you() in case you need it.

g. Don't worry about Tom and me. We can look after ourselves().

h. I gave them a key to our house so that they could let themselves() in.

i. When they come to visit us, they always bring their dog with them().

a. Julia had a great holiday. She enjoyed herself().

b. It's not my fault. You can't blame me().

c. What I did was very wrong. I'm ashamed of myself().

d. We've got a problem. I hope you can help us().

e. 'Can I take another biscuit?' 'Of course. Help yourself()!'

f. Take some money with you() in case you need it.

g. Don't worry about Tom and me. We can look after ourselves().

h. I gave them a key to our house so that they could let themselves() in.

i. When they come to visit us, they always bring their dog with them().

reflexive or nothing?

Put in a reflexive pronoun (-self) or a '-'

a. I'd like to apologise -() for the mistake.

b. Did you all enjoy yourselves() at the seaside?

c. I think we'd better introduce ourselves() to you.

d. (Wir nähern uns dem Flughafen London.)
We are approaching -() London Airport.

e. Could you imagine -() working on a farm?

f. I'm so sorry .Did you hurt yourself()?

g. Sorry, I don't know. I 'm a stranger here myself().

h. You wouldn't refuse -() to make a speech, would you?

i. I washed -() and then I got dressed.

k. The buffet was great. I helped myself() to all the dishes.

a. I'd like to apologise -() for the mistake.

b. Did you all enjoy yourselves(you all) at the seaside?

c. I think we'd better introduce ourselves(we) to you.

d. (Wir nähern uns dem Flughafen London.)
We are approaching -() London Airport.

e. Could you imagine -() working on a farm?

f. I'm so sorry .Did you hurt yourself()?

g. Sorry, I don't know. I 'm a stranger here myself().

h. You wouldn't refuse -() to make a speech, would you?

i. I washed -() and then I got dressed.

k. The buffet was great. I helped myself() to all the dishes.

each other or themselves

Complete the sentences with -selves or each other.

1. How long have you and Bill known each other()?

2. If people work too hard, they can make themselves() ill.

3. I need you and you need me. We need each other().

4. In Britain friends often give each other() presents at Christmas.

5. Some people are very selfish. They only think of themselves().

6. Nora and I don't see each other() very often these days.

7. We couldn't get back into the house. We had locked ourselves() out.

8. They've had an argument. They're not speaking to each other() at the moment.

9. We'd never met before, so we introduced ourselves() to each other() .

1. How long have you and Bill known each other()?

2. If people work too hard, they can make themselves() ill.

3. I need you and you need me. We need each other().

4. In Britain friends often give each other() presents at Christmas.

5. Some people are very selfish. They only think of themselves().

6. Nora and I don't see each other() very often these days.

7. We couldn't get back into the house. We had locked ourselves() out.

8. They've had an argument. They're not speaking to each other() at the moment.

9. We'd never met before, so we introduced ourselves() to each other() .