reflexive pronouns

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 2

What does "reflexive" mean?

1. the production of an image
2. an automatic response to a stimulus
3. directed or turned back on itself
4. something that bounces back

What is a "pronoun"?

1. a word that shows something is official
2. a word used instead of a noun
3. a word that can be combined with a determiner
4. a word that is the grammatical center

Reflexive Pronoun

Official definition:

A reflexive pronoun is a pronoun such as "myself" which refers back to the subject of a sentence or clause.

(in Dutch: wederkerend voornaamwoord)

Write down examples of reflexive pronouns.

reflexive pronouns:

The reflexive pronouns are:

 

singular: myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself;

plural: ourselves, yourselves, themselves.

When do you use reflexive pronouns?

1. We use a reflexive pronoun as a direct object (= lijdend        voorwerp) when the direct object is the same as

 the subject (= onderwerp) of the sentence:

 I fell over and hurt myself.

 Be careful with that knife. You might cut yourself.

The most common verbs with which you use a reflexive pronoun:

amuse

blame

cut

dry 

enjoy

help

hurt

introduce

kill

prepare

satisfy

teach

BUT:

We do NOT use a reflexive pronoun after verbs which describe things people usually do for themselves:

He washed in cold water. (Compare in Dutch: zich wassen)

He always shaved before going out in the evening. (Compare in Dutch: zich scheren)

And BUT 2:

We only use reflexives with these verbs for emphasis:

The Queen dressed herself for the ball.

John is old enough to wash himself.

The King himself went to the hospital to greet the victims.

And now,

 ready for some fun?

A quizzzzzzzzzz

(again?????? Can't she think of something which is actually funny????)

Robert made this t-shirt......

1. herself
2. themselves
3. ourselves
4. himself

We have been amusing ...... for two whole weeks.

1. themselves
2. itself
3. ourselves
4. yourselves

Tim and Gerry, if you want more milk, help........

1. themselves
2. yourselves
3. ourselves
4. yourself

Alice and Doris collected the stickers ............

1. themselves
2. yourselves
3. herself
4. myself

A lion can defend ...........

1. herself
2. itself
3. himself
4. myself

Emma did you take the photo .....?

1. myself
2. itself
3. herself
4. yourself

His grandfather often spoke to ........

1. himself
2. myself
3. herself
4. yourself

I wrote this short story ......

1. herself
2. himself
3. myself
4. ourselves

Lisa did her homework ....

1. myself
2. yourself
3. herself
4. himself

Our Queen Maxima opened the new Shopping Mall in Leidschendam ........

1. itself
2. herself
3. himself
4. myself