Fill in the blanks as appropriate.
11 Examples: (reflexive pronouns)
I didn't enjoy myself at the party.
You are always looking at yourself in the mirror.
He is always feeling sorry for himself.
She helped herself to a piece of chocolate cake.
The house itself is very small.
We revised it ourselves/We ourselves revised it.
Make yourselves comfortable, boys.
They built their house themselves/They themselves built the house.
Reflexive pronouns relate to the subject of the sentence; hence the the subject of the sentences agrees with the reflexive pronoun in number and gender, as in the above examples. However, a reflexive pronoun may also refer to an object:
I saw the king (object)
himself at the palace.
a My mother told me to behave __________.
b You're always flaunting __________! I'm afraid to tell you that you are quite plain.
c If you don't look after __________, you will have health trouble in the near future.
d Everybody thinks he has a screw loose because he's always talking to __________; but I daresay he is the sanest person on earth.
e I cut __________ when I was chopping an onion into small pieces.
12 Example:
The Queen herself was at the demonstration.
Reflexive pronouns can mean "personally" or "in person", that is, they act as intensifiers.
a I'll stick to the rules __________.
b The King __________ will propose the new candidate.
c Mrs Spenser __________ came to see me.
d He will put her out of the job __________.
e They bought these fresh eggs __________.
13 Examples:
I enjoy travelling on my own. (
on + a possessive adjective + own)
I enjoy travelling by myself. (
by + reflexive pronoun)
On my own and
by myself are synonyms. They mean "alone" or without help".
a My sister is only eight years of age. She has painted this picture all by __________.
b This machine switches on all by __________. You only have to programme it to come on at a certain time.
c He likes being all on __________ own.
d They say that they would love to live on __________ own, but that they can't, since they're under age.
e We built this mountain shelter by __________, which protects us from rain and snow whenever we come here to climb.
14 Example:
Tim wrote the book himself/Tim himself wrote the book.
This sentence mean that he did not obtain any outside help.
a Our butler __________ made this cake. He's a very good cook.
b My nephew __________ took in this suit a bit.
c The sentry __________ stopped the three enemies from entering the fort.
d My daughter made this perfume __________. Doesn't it smell great?
e Our children painted this cupboard __________.
15 Revision exercise.
a If anybody sees me talking to an invisible woman, they'll think I'm speaking to __________. So we'd better not talk in public places.
b __________ pretends to be a rough boy; but, actually, __________ isn't.
c A new opportunity presented __________ to her, and she seized __________ with both hands.
d The quest for immortality has been one of the principal issues in the human race throughout the centuries. Some of __________ find it necessary to have children because it is a good way of continuing __________ lineage, of transmitting __________ genes to __________ offspring. Others search for __________ through art or investigation. As a case in point, we could mention Antoni Gaudí i Cornet, who built La Sagrada Família, one of the most symbolic monuments in Catalan culture. __________ will never die. People will remember __________ through __________, since this great work of art is a pride for the Catalan nation.
e Other people try to find immortality through religion. __________ think that there will be another life, better than the one __________ are living presently.
f "Whose car is this?"
"It's __________. I bought __________ yesterday. Do __________ like __________?"
"Yes, __________ do. Would __________ mind giving __________ a ride?"
"Of course not. Get in. Where do __________ want to go?"
"Anywhere."
g Mr Taylor warned __________ about the fire. But for __________, we would be dead now.
h His spouse __________ poisoned him.
i The Blakes will supply __________ with drinks and sandwiches if we pay __________ in advance.
j I feel contempt for Mr and Mrs Johnson, since __________ are the most dishonest people __________ have ever met.
k Miss Spenser is always talking to __________. It is said __________ has got a screw loose.
l "I think the Duncans have cleaned out the department store next door. __________ are professional thieves."
"__________ think __________ should give __________ the benefit of the doubt.
m "You should bear in mind that second-hand car prices have plummeted recently. This is why __________ can only offer __________ a thousand pounds for __________ old car."
"But __________ is only four years old!"
"Well, __________ take __________ or leave __________."
"__________ think __________ will try another dealer."
n "Have you heard the latest news about Miss Squire?"
"__________ was run down by a truck for all __________ know."
o I have no time for pedantic people. __________ send me up the wall.
p "Would you like __________ to refresh __________ memory?"
"No, you don't have to."
q "Which of you hinted that we had cleared them out at cards?"
"__________, as I saw __________ with __________ own eyes."
r My son always keeps __________ nose to the grindstone. __________ is beloved by __________ workmates and by __________ employer.
s Ms King says that __________ wants to be by __________.
t "Who is it?"
"It's __________. Come on, open the door once and for all!"
u Everyone got on the bus, didn't __________?
v We had a flat of __________ own.
w The President of the USA __________ was for her proposal.
x Somebody called her a little rascal, and __________ smiled at __________.
y Mrs Curtis is very ugly, but Mr Curtis is even uglier, so __________ is not so ugly as __________.
z I need a bathroom to __________. I don't like to share with anybody.
16 Example:
He shaves every morning.
Reflexive pronouns are not often used to refer to actions we generally do, unless we want to give a special emphasis to the action itself:
My daughter dresses herself, and she is only four years of age. An exception to this is the verb
dry:
He dried himself (off) with a towel. It is worth mentioning as well that a few verbs do not take reflexive pronouns, e.g. concentrate and relax:
If you don't concentrate on your studies, you'll fail.
a After I get up __________, I wash __________, and have breakfast __________.
b Take this towel, and dry __________.
c I think you should relax __________.
d Mr Woods never washes __________. He smells very bad.
e Martha never makes __________ up.
17 Examples:
John and Anne love each other.
We love them.
She only loves herself.
The first sentence implies a reciprocal action, ie a mutual action; or in other words:
John loves Anne, and Anne loves John. The second example denotes that the action expressed by the subject falls on other people or things. The third instance states a reflexive action, since
herself refers back to
she.
a We write to __________ once a week. We love __________ very much.
b She is very vain. She's constanly looking at __________ in the mirror. She doesn't care about other people. In my opinion, she only thinks of __________.
c We send __________ presents at Christmas. Last year I sent __________ a ball, and he sent __________ a talking doll.
d They kissed __________ on both cheeks whenever they met (__________).
e Her father has been overseas for ten years. She always sends __________ a photograph of her at Christmas.
18 Revision exercise.
a I've just taken one of these tablets, and __________ head is spinning round.
b She made this colander __________. Isn't __________ lovely?
c He loved my niece a lot, and now __________ can't get __________ out of __________ mind.
d The garden __________ is immense. That house is a genuine bargain.
e __________ doctor first told her that __________ was carrying twins, but when __________ was told that __________ was carrying triplets, it left __________ speechless.
f I don't know what is happening to us, but now __________ hardly talk to __________.
g Words fail __________. I can't express how happy __________ am.
h Glow-worms are my favourite insects, since __________ produce a betwiching green light at night.
i The first time __________ eyes met, we felt a marvellous sensation. I reckon __________ was love, love at first sight.
j Don't worry; __________ bark is worse that __________ bite. She's not that bad!
k The raiders were not caught, because __________ managed to get to Mexico.
l __________ is on the tip of my tongue!
m She had breakfast all by __________.
n As it was Eliza's birthday, everybody drank to __________ health.
o She told me that she had sworn on __________ mother's grave that __________ would never marry again, but that __________ had broken __________ promise when __________ married me.
p If we don't clip __________ wings, they will cause __________ a lot of trouble.
q She took __________ by the arm, and __________ went out of the building. He was very happy because __________ were together again.
r The first time he saw her, __________ was leaning out of a window. Such was __________ beauty that he thought __________ had seen a deity. The next day, he went to the same place at the same time to see if __________ goddess was leaning out of the window, but __________ wasn't.
s I like working on __________ own.
t They used to write to __________ every week. They were very good friends.
u If you don't relax __________, __________ will fall ill.
v He hates eating by __________.
w The mayoress __________ open the ceremony.
x Nobody except __________ ate the set dinner, which is why they got poisoned, but he didn't.
y "My father has a lot of reponsibility on __________ shoulders. __________ is a very important politician. How about yours?"
"Well, __________ is a sweeper. __________ sweeps and cleans the streets. Thanks to people like __________, __________ streets are cleaned, so __________ is a person with a lot of responsibility as well.
z To __________ mind, Picasso is the best cubist painter. I like __________ paintings very much.
____________________
Formerly,
each other related to two people or things; and
one another, to more than two. Nowadays this distinction is no longer in use, that is, both terms can be used as synonyms. Still,
one another probably retains a more general sense:
People should help one another.