Reflexive pronoun

Возвратные местоимения в английском языке используются, когда лицо или предмет производят действие, направленное на само себя. В русском языке они соответствуют частице –ся или местоимению себя.

e.g. I cut myself.

       You work too hard. You never have time for yourself.

Кроме того, возвратные местоимения в английском языке могут использоваться для того, чтобы подчеркнуть, что действие выполняется самостоятельно, без посторонней помощи.

e.g. Nobody helped me. I did it all myself.

       We painted our flat ourselves. Ittookthreedays.

После некоторых глаголов возвратные местоимения опускаются.  Например, после to wash, to bathe, to dress, to hide, to shave, to relax, to change(clothes).

e.g. I washed, shaved, changed my clothes and left for work.

Устойчивые выражения с возвратными глаголами:

Help yourself! – Не стесняйся! Угощайся!                                                                                                     

Enjoy yourself! – Хорошо повеселиться!                                                                                                       

Don’t upset yourself! – Не расстраивайся!                                                                                                             

I can’t hear myself speak! – Здесь так шумно! Оглохнуть можно!                                                                

Do it yourself! – Сделай это сам!

   Exercise 1.

Complete the sentences with the correct reflexive pronoun.

1. I enjoyed …………….. very much at the party

1. Myself
2. Herself
3. Myselves
4. Himself

2. Be careful. That pot is very hot. Don’t burn ……………

1. Ourselves
2. Yourselves
3. Yourself
4. Himself

3. He thinks too much of …………..

1. Himself
2. Yourselves
3. Yourself
4. Himself

4. Here is the money, go to the shop and buy …………… some clothes.

1. Ourselves
2. Yourself
3. Itself
4. Yourselves

5. We built most of the house …………

1. Themselves
2. Yourselves
3. Ourself
4. Ourselves

6. The box was so heavy for me to lift by ……………

1. Yourself
2. Myself
3. Himself
4. Herself

Answers: 1-a, 2-c, 3-a, 4-b, 5-d, 6-b.

   Exercise2.

Put the words in the correct order.

1. Made           T-shirt           Robert         himself        his.
2. I           mirror           myself              of             sight               the               in             caught
3. Decorate           by          children             the              the            Christmas         themselves       can                tree     
4. Cleans          the          its             tongue             with              cat            itself.
5. Can’t              by          you                do              if               exercise                this              yourself        , for             the               ask               help                 teacher.
6. Move             ourselves               we            the             can               table.

Answers: 1. Robert made his T-shirt himself. 2. I caught sight of myself in the mirror. 3. The children can decorate the Christmas tree by themselves. 4. The cat cleans itself with its tongue. 5. If you can’t do this exercise by yourself, ask the teacher for help. 6. We can move the table ourselves.

   Exercise 3.

Complete with the correct reflexive pronoun.

1)      The father decided to repair the car………………..

2)       Lisa did the homework ……………..

3)      We helped ………………..to some cola at the party.

4)      Emma, did you take the photo by …………………..

5)      I wrote this poem ………………..

6)      He cut ……………. with the knife while he was doing the dishes.

7)      The lion can defend …………….

8)      My mother often talks to ………………

9)      Tim and Gerry, if you want more milk, help ……………

10)   Alice and Doris collected the stickers ………………..

Answers:1.himself, 2.herself, 3.ourselves, 4.yourself, 5.myself, 6.himself, 7.itself, 8.herself, 9.yourselves, 10.themselves.