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Hi everyone! I'm Arnel, and today we're going to
look at: Reflexive pronouns, emphatic pronouns (also
called intensive pronouns), and reciprocal pronouns.
I know this looks like a lot of grammar but we'll
do everything step by step. Here's today's lesson
plan: Reflexive pronouns, basics, examples: themself
and oneself. Emphatic pronouns, basics, examples.
And then, reflexive or emphatic pronoun, test.
Reciprocal pronouns, basics, examples.
Reflexive or reciprocal pronoun comparison.
And we'll end with a big review. Let's start.
This is Jo. Jo bought Gracie a coffee.
If I use pronouns I can say: she
bought her a coffee, that's clear.
Jo bought her dad a coffee. She bought him
a coffee. Jo bought everyone in her class a
coffee. Jo has a lot of money, she bought them a
coffee. Last one, Jo bought herself a coffee. We
use reflexive pronouns when the subject and
the object are the same thing. Let's compare.
Mark turned the light off.
The light turns itself off.
Same thing, the light itself. Same thing.
Look at my chart here, we have eight reflexive
pronouns. You can see reflexive pronouns end
with either, self, or selves, singular and
plural. I also put the subject pronouns there
to help you. Eight reflexive
pronouns, let's do eight examples!
I was really nervous about my interview. But,
I told myself to smile and act confident.
You shouldn't read in the dark,
you'll give yourself a headache.
Ed talks about himself a
lot, talk talk talk talk talk.
About himself. I think i know more
about him than I do my own Dad.
One of my colleagues is a bit odd.
She likes talking to herself. Come on Sues,
finish this email then you can get some tea - yeah!
Come on, start your essay. It's not going to write
itself. I am an essay, i am writing myself.
Well done on the test everyone, you
should be really proud of yourselves.
We taught ourselves how to
cook and we opened a food truck.
Dougie and kylie are planning to sell everything
they own and travel the world. They really need to
ask themselves if that's a good idea. So it's clear,
the reflexive pronoun refers back to the subject.
Common mistake: And this is funny, this isn't
a common mistake with English students. This is
a common mistake with native speakers. Tamar and
myself will be available over the weekend. Tamar
and I. I is your subject pronoun, right? If you
have any questions you can ask Pierre or myself.
Here, or, me. Me is the object pronoun.
So you might hear native speakers
saying this because they're trying to sound
more formal, but it's actually not correct.
Back to this chart. We know they
and themselves are plural pronouns.
But it's very common to use they and themselves as
singular pronouns. Why? Because it makes life easy.
It's easier to say they, instead of he or she.
It's easier to say themself, instead of himself or
herself. It's kind of like the words anyone,
someone, male or female. It doesn't matter.
Someone left their phone in the changing
room. I'm sure they will. I'm sure they will
come back and get it. They. This can be he
or she, but we're talking about one person.
We need to grit this sidewalk it's icy. If
someone slips and injures themself, we are in big
trouble. This is a lot easier than saying: If
someone slips and injures himself or herself.
But, themself isn't always considered correct.
If i go into Microsoft word I can type myself.
Okay. Himself, itself. But when I try
themself, autocorrect. And again, and again.
These are only red because they are repeated
words. So themself is very common, and you will
hear it used in conversations, messages, etc... But if
you're taking an English exam, or writing something
academic, don't use themself. You
know someone might be like... themself?!?!?!?
Okay. Let's end our reflexive pronouns section
with oneself. Oneself is a reflexive pronoun of
one. Meaning, a person in general. No one
specific. And this is a formal reflexive pronoun.
One must learn to understand oneself before
understanding others. One may choose
to express oneself through art.
Eight reflexive pronouns, done! Ten if you include
themself and oneself. Are you
ready for emphatic pronouns?
Ta-da! They are the same!
So, what's the difference between reflexive and
emphatic pronouns? Reflexive pronouns are necessary,
you cannot remove them. You
shouldn't read in the dark,
you'll give a headache? That doesn't make sense.
Emphatic pronouns give emphasis.
That's why they're also called
intensive pronouns, and they are optional.
I solved a big problem at work and the CEO
himself came to my office to say thank you.
Okay, why am i emphasizing this? Let's look at a
company's hierarchy. The CEO is at the very top
right? I'm at the bottom. Normally, CEOs only talk
to top management. So I want to emphasize this.
He, himself, wow! Came to my office to say thank you.
The new online learning
platform is complicated to use.
The teachers themselves don't know how to use the
software. Why do i want to emphasize this? Because
if the teachers don't know how to use the software,
how can the students know how to use the software?
Look at the position. After the subject, after
the subject. This is a very common position.
Put your emphatic pronoun after the subject
you're trying to emphasize. Because your action
is either impressive or important. And,
you can remove the pronoun. The sentences
are, as you can see, grammatically correct. But the
feeling is very very different. Let's do some more
examples, I've already given you an example
for himself and themselves. We can skip those.
I know a lot of people have told
you not to open your own business,
but I myself, think it's a great idea.
You really can't complain about the new
working hours. You yourself voted for the change.
Sandra Hawkins reminded everyone that she
herself, was once a junior in the company.
How was the art show? Did you win? No, my sculpture
collapsed an hour before the judging started.
Collapsed? Did someone push it over?
No. The sculpture itself collapsed.
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you
Roboscan. Later this evening you yourselves,
will be able to test this amazing security robot.
We shouldn't blame others. We ourselves
must take responsibility and change.
So the position after the subject is clear.
But what happens if we move that emphatic
pronoun to the end of our clause or sentence?
This usually means without any help.
Parents, you can't help your kids with this project.
They need to do it themselves, without any help.
Did. Did you make this entire meal yourself?
Wow really impressive, without any help.
Hey Arnel. Hi! Do you like my hair?
I cut it myself! Yeah, very unique.
Common question: Myself or by myself? If we just
use emphatic pronouns, this means without any help.
We just looked at that. If we say by myself,
this means alone. The problem is normally if
we do something without any help, we are alone. So,
in this example here, I edit these videos myself. I
edit these videos by myself. These really mean
the same thing, there is no difference in meaning.
But if you really want to mean alone, there
are some situations where you can only use by
plus emphatic pronoun. I like spending time by
myself. We can't say, I like spending time myself.
Maria sits by herself at lunch. She really
doesn't want to talk to anyone else.
Mini test! Are these pronouns here reflexive
or emphatic? Pause the video to do this.
Okay. Numbers 2 and 5 are emphatic. How do I know
that? Because I can remove them and they still
make sense. 1, 3, and 4 are reflexive. Look, if you
remove them, they're not grammatically correct.
And we need them because we want that
pronoun to refer back to the subject.
Good news, I have good news. There are only two
reciprocal pronouns. Each other and one another.
Sheila gave Aubrey a gift. Aubrey gave Sheila a
gift. Sheila and Aubrey gave each other a gift.
My husband cuts my hair. I cut my husband's hair.
This saves a lot of money. We cut each
other's hair. Notice this one, it's possessive.
Each other, two people, the same action goes
both ways. Which sentence is more natural?
My parents love each other very much. My parents
love themselves very much. The first one is more
natural right? One another. Three or more
people, the same action goes to everyone.
It's important to respect one another. I have a
big family, we always send pictures to one another.
In my company, we have to review one another's
work at the end of every month. Possessive.
But, nowadays, many people use these two
interchangeably and there is no difference
in meaning. I think that's why these can
be a bit confusing. For example, Professor:
It's important to help each
other prepare for the exam.
It's important to help one another prepare
for the exam. These mean the same thing. So
it's good to know the guidelines but you can
use these reciprocal pronouns interchangeably.
Okay. Are you ready for a big review? The question
is, am I ready? I'm going to try and remember
everything! Reflexive pronouns: We use them to show
that the subject and the object are the same thing.
Themself: The reflexive
pronoun of the singular, they.
It's very common but it's not always considered
correct. Oneself: the reflexive pronoun of one.
Very formal. Emphatic pronouns, intensive pronouns,
are optional. If you put them after the subject
you really want to emphasize the subject's action.
If they go at the end of your clause or sentence,
you want to emphasize without any
help. If you use by, this means alone.
Each other and one another can be used
interchangeably, these are reciprocal pronouns.
But as a general rule, people tend to use
each other to mean two people, and one
another to mean three or more people.
I think that's everything! Did i forget anything?
Let me know in the comments. I can't wait to
make another video for you, I hope this
was helpful and see you next time. Bye!!!
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