A Reflexive Pronoun is a Pronoun That is Preceded by the Noun
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A reflexive pronoun is a pronoun that is preceded by the noun, adjective, adverb or
pronoun to which it refers (its antecedent) within the same clause. In generative
grammar , a reflexive pronoun is an anaphor that must be bound by its antecedent
(see binding). In some languages, there is a difference between reflexive and non-
reflexive pronouns; but the exact conditions that determine whether or not something
be bound are not yet well defined and depend on the language in question. It dependson the part of the sentence containing the pronoun.
In English, the function of a reflexive pronoun is among the meanings of the words
myself , yourself , thyself (archaic), himself (in some dialects, "hisself "), herself , itself ,
oneself , ourselves, ourself (as majestic plural), yourselves, and themselves (in some
dialects, " theirselves" ). In the statements "I see him" and "She sees you", the objects
are not the same persons as the subjects, and regular pronouns are used. However,
when the person being seen is the same as the person who is seeing, the reflexive
pronoun is used: "I see myself " or "She sees herself ".
metafrash
[Μα αληαλαιαζηή αλησλπκία είλα κα αλησλπκία νπ ξνγείηα αό ηννπζαζηό, είεην, είξξκα ή αλησλπκία ζηλ ννία αλαθέξεηα (ξνγελέζηεξεο
ηο) κέζα ζηλ ίδα ξήηξα. Σε αξαγσγή γξακκαηή, κα αληαλαιαζηήαλησλπκία είλα έλα anaphor νπ ξέε λα δεζκεύεηα αό ξνγελέζηεξεο ηο (βι.
ζύλδεζ). Σε κεξέο γιώζζεο, πάξρε κα δαθνξά κεηαμύ αληαλαιαζηέο α καληαλαιαζηέο αλησλπκίεο? Αιιά ν αξβείο ζπλήεο νπ ανξίνπλ αηά όζν
ή όρ άη νπ ξέε λα δεζκεύεηα λα κλ έρνπλ αόκ ζαθώο ανξζκέλεο αεμαξηώληα αό ηλ ελ ιόγσ γιώζζα.
Εμαξηάηα αό ην ηκήκα ηο θξάζο νπ εξέρε ηλ αλησλπκία.
Σηλ αγγιή γιώζζα, ιεηνπξγία καο απηόβνπιο αλησλπκία είλα κα αό ηο
ζκαζίεο ησλ ιέμεσλ εαπηό κνπ, ηνλ εαπηό ζνπ, ηνλ εαπηό ζνπ (αξρατή), ν ίδνο (ζε
νξζκέλεο δαιέηνπο, "hisself"), ηνλ εαπηό ηο, ίδα, ηνλ εαπηό ηνπ, ηνλ εαπηό καο,ηνλ εαπηό καο (όσο κεγαινξεή ιπληό) , ηνλ εαπηό ζαο, α ηνλ εαπηό ηνπο
(ζε νξζκέλεο δαιέηνπο, "πνδέρηαλ"). Σηο διώζεο «Τνλ βιέσ» α «ζαοβιέε», ηα αληείκελα δελ είλα ηα ίδα ξόζσα α ηα έκαηα, α
ρξζκνννύληα ηαηά αλησλπκίεο.
Ωζηόζν, όηαλ ην άηνκν λα δε είλα ην ίδν κε ην άηνκν νπ βιέε, απηναήοαλησλπκία ρξζκννείηα: «Βιέσ ηνλ εαπηό κνπ" ή "βιέε ηνλ εαπηό ηο]
In Indo-European languages, the reflexive pronoun has its origins in Proto-Indo-
European. In some languages, the distinction between the normal object and reflexive
pronouns exists mainly in the third person: whether one says "I like me" or "I like
myself", there is no question that the object is the same person as the subject; but, in
"They like them(selves)", there can be uncertainty about the identity of the object
unless a distinction exists between the reflexive and the nonreflexive. In some
languages, this distinction includes genitive forms: see, for instance, the Danish
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examples below. In languages with a distinct reflexive pronoun form, it is often
gender-neutral.
A reflexive pronoun is a special kind of pronoun that is usually used when the object
of a sentence is the same as the subject. Each personal pronoun (such as "I", "you"
and "she") has its own reflexive form:
Μεηαθξαζ
[Σε Ιλδν-Επξσατέο γιώζζεο, απηναήο αλησλπκία έρε ηο ξίεο ηο ζηλΠξσην-Ιλδν-Επξσατή. Σε νξζκέλεο γιώζζεο, δάξζ κεηαμύ ηο αλνλήο
αληείκελν α αληαλαιαζηέο αλησλπκίεο πάξρε πξίσο ζην ηξίην ξόζσν: αλάννο ιέε "κνπ αξέζε" ή "εγώ ήεια», δελ πάξρε ακία ακθβνιία όη ην
αληείκελν είλα ην ίδν ξόζσν κε ην έκα? αιιά, ζε "Τνπο αξέζε λα ηνπο (ηνλεαπηό)", δελ κνξεί λα πάξμε αβεβαόηηα ζρεηά κε ηλ ηαπηόηηα ηνπ
αληεκέλνπ, εηόο αλ δάξζ κεηαμύ ηο απηόβνπιο α nonreflexive. Σε
κεξέο γιώζζεο, δάξζ απηή εξιακβάλε γελή κνξθή: βι., γα αξάδεγκα,ν δαλέο αξαάησ αξαδείγκαηα. Σε γιώζζεο κε κα μερσξζηή αληαλαιαζηέο
κνξθή αλησλπκία, είλα ζπρλά ην θύιν νπδέηεξ.
Μα αληαλαιαζηή αλησλπκία είλα έλα δαίηεξν είδνο ηο αλησλπκίαο νπρξζκννείηα ζπλήσο όηαλ ην αληείκελν καο ξόηαζο είλα ην ίδν κε ην έκα.Κάε ξνζσή αλησλπκία (όσο ην "I", "ζαο" α "απηή") έρε η δή ηνπαληαλαιαζηέο κνξθή:]
I — myself
you (singular) — yourself
he — himself
she — herself
it — itself
we — ourselves
you (plural) — yourselves
they — themselves
Reflexive pronouns are primarily used in three situations: when the subject and object
are the same (e.g., "He watched himself on TV."), as the object of a preposition when
the subject and the object are the same (e.g., "That man is talking to himself."), and to
emphasize the subject through an intensive pronoun (e.g., "They ate all the foodthemselves.")
It is increasingly common to use reflexive pronouns without local linguistic
antecedents to refer to discourse participants or people already referenced in a
discourse: for example, "Please, forward the information to myself ." Such
formulations are usually considered non-standard and incorrect. These can often be
found within text where the writer has tried to formulate a more professional looking
letter without a true understanding of the language they are using. Within the
linguistics literature, reflexives with discourse antecedents are often referred to as
logophors. Standard English does allow the use of logophors in some contexts: for
example, "John was angry. Embarrassing pictures of himself were on display."However, within Standard English, this logophoric use of reflexives is generally
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limited to positions where the reflexive does not have a coargument.[1] The newer
non-standard usage does not respect this limitation. In some cases, reflexives without
local antecedents may be better analyzed as emphatic pronouns without any true
reflexive sense.
It is common in some subsets of the English-speaking population to use standardobject pronouns to express reflexive relations, especially in the first and sometimes
second persons, and especially for a recipient: for example, "I want to get me some
supper." This usage is non-standard.
Μεηαθξαζ
[Ο Reflexive αλησλπκίεο ρξζκνννύληα πξίσο ζε ηξεο εξηώζεο: όηαλ ην
πνείκελν α ην αληείκελν είλα ίδα (.ρ., ". Ο ίδνο αξανινπνύζε ζηληιεόξαζ"), σο αληείκελν κα ξόεζ όηαλ ην πνείκελν α ην αληείκελν
είλα ίδα (.ρ., «όη ν άλξσνο κιάε γα ηνλ εαπηό ηνπ. "), α λα ηνλίζε ην έκα
κέζα αό κα εληαηή αλησλπκία (.ρ.," έηξσγαλ ν ίδν όια ηα ηξόθκα. ")
Είλα όιν α εξζζόηεξν νλό λα ρξζκννήζε αληαλαιαζηέο αλησλπκίεο
ρσξίο ηνό γισζζό ξνγνύκελα λα αλαθεξώ ζηνπο ζπκκεηέρνληεο ιόγνπ ή ν
άλξσν νπ έρνπλ ήδ αλαθεξεί ζε κα ζπήηζ: γα αξάδεγκα, "Παξααιώ,ξνσνύλ ηο ιξνθνξίεο γα ηνλ εαπηό κνπ." Τέηνα ζεπάζκαηα ζπλήσοεσξείηα κ ηπή α εζθαικέλ. Απηνί κνξνύλ ζπρλά λα βξενύλ κέζα ζηνείκελν όνπ ν ζπγγξαθέαο ξνζάζε λα δακνξθώζε κα ν εαγγεικαηή
εζηνιή νπ αλαηνύλ, ρσξίο κα ξαγκαηή αηαλόζ ηο γιώζζαο νπρξζκνννύλ. Εληόο ηο ινγνηερλίαο γισζζνινγία, ν αληαλαιαζηά κε
ξνγέληα ιόγν ζπρλά αλαθέξεηα σο logophors. Πξόηπν Αγγιά δελ εηξέεη ρξήζ ηνπ logophors ζε νξζκέλα ιαίζα: γα αξάδεγκα, "John ήηαλ πκσκέλνο
ελνριηά εόλεο ηνπ εαπηνύ ηνπ ήηαλ ζηλ νόλ.». Ωζηόζν, ζην ξόηπν
αγγιά, ν logophoric ρξήζ ησλ αληαλαιαζηώλ εξνξίεηα γελά ζε έζεοόνπ αληαλαιαζηή δελ έρε coargument. [1] Η λεόηεξ κ ηπή ρξήζ δελ
ζέβεηα απηόλ ηνλ εξνξζκό. Σε νξζκέλεο εξηώζεο, ηα αληαλαιαζηά ρσξίοηνή ξνγνύκελα κνξεί λα είλα αιύηεξα αλαιύνληα σο εκθαηή αλησλπκίεο
ρσξίο ακία ξαγκαηή αλαζηνραζηή αίζζ.
Είλα νλό ζε νξζκέλα πνζύλνια ην αγγιόθσλν ιπζκό λα ρξζκνννύληπννκέλεο αλησλπκίεο αληείκελν λα εθξάζνπλ αληαλαιαζηέο ζρέζεο,
εδά ζηα ξώηα α κεξέο θνξέο η δεύηεξ ξόζσα, α εδά γα έλααξαιήη:. "Θέισ λα άξσ άνα δείλν", γα αξάδεγκα, Απηή ρξήζ είλα κ
ηπννκέλ.]
The reflexive pronouns in Italian are:
mi (first person singular)
ti (second person singular)
si (third person singular)
ci (first person plural) vi (second person plural)
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si (third person plural)
Reflexive pronouns are usually employed when the direct object in a sentence is also
its subject, thus reflecting the action as expressed in the verb on the subject itself.
This pronoun allows the building of three kinds of reflexive verbal forms: proper,non-proper (or ostensible), and reciprocal.
Μεηαθξαζ
[Ο απηναείο αλησλπκίεο ρξζκνννύληα α ζηα Ιηαιά ζπλήσο όηαλ ην
αληείκελν ζε κα ξόηαζ είλα, είζο, ην πνείκελό ηο, αληαλαιώληαο έηζ η
δξάζ, όσο εθξάεηα ζην ξήκα.
Απηέο ν αλησλπκίεο εηξένπλ ηλ αηαζεπή ηξώλ εδώλ απηναώλ ιεηώλ
κνξθώλ : ηλ νξή, κ νξή α ηλ απηναηή.
Io mi lavo, or io lavo me (I wash myself): reflexive proper, because the subject
is at the same time the object of the sentence.
Lui si lava i capelli (He washes his hair): reflexive non-proper, as he does not
wash himself but his hair, the real object of the action.
Noi due ci sposiamo oggi (the two of us get [are getting] married [to each
other] today): reflexive reciprocal, since the action is performed by the two
subjects reciprocally.
Notice that the sencence I wash myself could also be translated in Italian as io lavo me
stesso , that stresses the reflexiveness way more than the English.
The complete list of intensifying reflexive pronouns is:
me stesso (first person masculine singular)
me stessa (first person feminine singular)
te stesso (second person masculine singular)
te stessa (second person feminine singular)
se stesso (third person masculine singular)
se stessa (third person feminine singular)
noi stessi (first person masculine plural)
noi stesse (first person feminine plural)
voi stessi (second person masculine plural)
voi stesse (second person feminine plural)
loro stessi (third person masculine plural)
loro stesse (third person feminine plural)
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A reciprocal is a linguistic structure that marks a particular kind of
relationship between two noun phrases. In a reciprocal construction, each of
the participants occupies both the role of agent and patient with respect to each
other. For example, the English sentence "John and Mary cut each other's
hair" , contains a reciprocal structure: John cuts Mary's hair, and Mary cuts
John's. Many languages, such as Turkic or Bantu languages, have special reciprocal
morphemes in verbs. English does not, and it generally uses "each other" or
some other phrase to indicate reciprocity. Latin uses inter and the reflexive
pronoun of the subject of the verb: inter se (between themselves) when the
verb is third-person. Most Indo-European languages do not have special
markers for reciprocity on verbs, and reciprocal constructions are expressed
through reflexivity or other mechanisms. For example, Russian marks
reciprocity in intransitive verbs with the suffix -ся (self), which has also
reflexive and passive interpretations.
The reciprocal pronouns in English are one another and each other . Together withthe reflexive pronouns — myself , yourself , ourselves, yourselves, and others — they
are classified as anaphors.
Reciprocity is the broader concept, of which reflexivity is a special case. Reciprocity
has A relating to B and B relating in exactly the same way to A. Reflexivity is the
concept of A reciprocating with itself .
Μεηαθξαζ
[• Μα ακνβαία είλα κα γισζζή δνκή νπ ραξαηξίε έλα ζπγεξκέλν είδνοηο ζρέζο κεηαμύ δύν νλνκαηέο θξάζεο. Σε κα ακνβαία αηαζεπή, άε έλα
αό ηνπο ζπκκεηέρνληεο αηαιακβάλε ηόζν ηνλ ξόιν ηνπ αξάγνληα α αζελνύο
ζε ζρέζ κε άε άιιν. Γα αξάδεγκα, αγγιή θξάζ "John α Mary όςε ηακαιιά ηνπ άιινπ», εξέρε κα ακνβαία δνκή: John όβε ηα καιιά ηο Μαξίαο,
α ηο Μαξίαο εξνέο ηνπ John.
• Πνιιέο γιώζζεο, έρνπλ εδά αιιιναηά κνξθήκαηα νπ ζπλδένληα κε ηαξήκαηα. Τα Αγγιά δελ είλα έηζ. Χξζκνννύλ ηλ θξάζ “each other ”.
Λαηλή ρξζκννεί κεηαμύ α αληαλαιαζηή αλησλπκία ηνπ πνεκέλνπηνπ ξήκαηνο: κεηαμύ se (κεηαμύ ηνπο), όηαλ ην ξήκα είλα ηξίηνπ ξνζώνπ. Ο
εξζζόηεξν Ιλδν-Επξσατέο γιώζζεο δελ έρνπλ εδνύο δείηεο ηοακνβαόηηαο όζνλ αθνξά ηα ξήκαηα, α ακνβαίεο αηαζεπέο εθξάνληα κέζα
αό αληαλαιαζηόηηαο ή άιισλ κραλζκώλ. Γα αξάδεγκα, ξσζή
ακνβαόηηαο ζήκαηα ακεηάβαην ξήκαηα κε ηλ αηάιμ-ся (απην), ννία έρεείζο αληαλαιαζηέο α αηή εξκλείεο.
Ο ακνβαίεο αλησλπκίεο ζηλ αγγιή γιώζζα είλα ην έλα ην άιιν α ν έλαο ηνλ
άιινλ. Μαί κε ηο αληαλαιαζηέο αλησλπκίεο - ηνλ εαπηό κνπ, ηνλ εαπηό ζαο, ηνλεαπηό καο, ηνλ εαπηό ζαο α ηνπο άιινπο - έρνπλ ηαμλνκεί σο anaphors.
Η ακνβαόηηα είλα επξύηεξ έλλνα, ηο ννίαο αλαζηνραζκνύ είλα κα εδή
εξίησζ. Ακνβαόηηαο Α ζρεηά κε B and B ζρεηά κε ηνλ ίδν αξβώο ηξόνκε ηνλ Α. Αληαλαιαζηόηηα είλα έλλνα ηο αιλδξνκή κε ηνλ εαπηό ηνπ.]
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Reciprocal: A↔B = A→B and A←B = A→B and B→A
Reflexive: A↔A = A→A and A←A = A→A and A→A = simply A→A
Examples:
Reciprocal: They all said "Hello" to one another .
Reflexive: All alone, he had no friends but himself .
The classical Greek reciprocal pronoun was allēlōn (ἀιιἠισλ). From this stems the
word parallel : para allēlois (αξὰ ἀιιήινο) "beside each other".
In grammar , a reflexive verb is a verb whose semantic agent and patient (typically
represented syntactically by the subject and the direct object) are the same. For
example, the English verb to perjure is reflexive, since one can only perjure oneself .
In a wider sense, the phrase refers to any verb form whose grammatical object is areflexive pronoun, regardless of semantics; such verbs are also referred to as
pronominal verbs, especially in grammars of the Romance languages.
There are languages that have explicit morphology to transform a verb into a reflexive
form. English employs reflexive derivation idiosyncratically, as in "self-destruct";
Romance languages do the same with the Greek -derived prefix auto-.
In many languages, reflexive constructions are rendered by transitive verbs followed
by a reflexive pronoun, as in English -self (e.g., "She threw herself to the floor.")
The "true" (literal) reflexive denotes that the agent is simultaneously the patient. The verb is
typically transitive, and can be used in non-reflexive meaning as well.
"Reciprocal" reflexive denotes that the agents perform the mutual actions among
themselves. In most cases, the transitive verbs are also used.
Μεταραςη*Στη γραμματική, μια αντανακλαςτική ρήμα είναι ζνα ρήμα οποίων το
ςημαςιολογικό παράγοντα και τον αςθενή (ςυνήθωσ εκπροςωποφνται ςυντακτικά από το
θζμα και το άμεςο αντικείμενο) είναι το ίδιο. Για παράδειγμα, το αγγλικό ρήμα ψευδορκϊ
είναι αντανακλαςτική, αοφ μπορεί κανείσ να ψευδορκϊ τον εαυτό του και μόνο. Σε μια
ευρφτερη ζννοια, ο όροσ αναζρεται ςε οποιαδήποτε μορή τησ οποίασ ρήμα γραμματική
αντικείμενο είναι ζνα αντανακλαςτικό αντωνυμία, ανεξαρτήτωσ τησ ςημαςιολογίασ? Τζτοια
ρήματα που αναζρεται επίςησ ωσ αντωνυμικόσ ρήματα, ιδίωσ ςτισ γραμματικζσ των
λατινογενείσ γλϊςςεσ.
Εκεί είναι οι γλϊςςεσ που ζχουν τη ρητή μορολογία να μετατρζψει ζνα ρήμα ςε μια
αναςτοχαςτική μορή. English απαςχολεί αντανακλαςτικζσ παραγωγή ιδιοςυγκραςιακά,
όπωσ το "αυτοκαταςτροήσ"? Λατινογενείσ γλϊςςεσ κάνουν το ίδιο με την ελληνική
προερχόμενο πρόθεμα αυτόματη.
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Σε πολλζσ γλϊςςεσ, οι αντανακλαςτικζσ καταςκευζσ που παρζχονται από μεταβατικά
ρήματα που ακολουθείται από μια αντανακλαςτική αντωνυμία, όπωσ ςτα αγγλικά-αυτο
(π.χ., "Η ίδια ζριξε ςτο πάτωμα.")
Η "αλήθεια" (κυριολεκτικά) αντανακλαςτικζσ ςημαίνει ότι ο πράκτορασ είναι ταυτόχρονα η
αςθενοφσ. Το ρήμα είναι τυπικά μεταβατικό, και μπορεί να χρηςιμοποιηθεί ςε μη
αντανακλαςτικζσ ζννοια, καθϊσ και.
"Αμοιβαία" αυτόβουλησ ςημαίνει ότι οι πράκτορεσ εκτελοφν τισ αμοιβαίεσ δράςεισ μεταξφ
τουσ. Στισ περιςςότερεσ περιπτϊςεισ, τα μεταβατικά ρήματα χρηςιμοποιοφνται επίςησ.+
Inherent
"Inherent" or "pronominal" (inherently or essentially) reflexive verbs lack thecorresponding non-reflexive from which they can be synchronically derived.[5] In
other words, se is an inherent part of an unergative reflexive or reciprocal verb with
no meaning of its own, and an obligatory part of the verb's lexical entry":[7]
κεηαθξαζ["Εγγελήο" ή "αλησλπκόο" (εγγελώο ή πξίσο) αληαλαιαζηέο ξήκαηα δελ έρνπλ ην αληίζηνρν κ
αλαιαζηή αό ηλ ννία κνξνύλ λα ζπγρξνλά ξνέξρεηα. [5] Με άιια ιόγα, se είλα έλα αλαόζαζην
κέξνο καο unergative αληαλαιαζηέο ή ακνβαία ξήκα ρσξίο λόκα ηο δήο ηνπ, α έλα πνρξεσηό κέξνο
ηο ιεμινγό είζνδν ηνπ ξήκαηνο είλα ": [7]]
Language Examples
SpanishPedro se
arrepintió.
Pedro se ríe
1]
María y Pedro se
separaron.[N 1] Pedro se queja.
Italian Pietro si pentì. [N 2]
Maria e Pietro si
separarono.[N 1]
Pietro si
lamenta.[N 3]
Serbo-
Croatian
Petar se
pokajao.
Petar se
smije.
Marija i Petar su se
rastali.Petar se žali.[N 3]
PolishPiotr się
pokajał .
Piotr się
śmieje.
Maria i Piotr się
rozstali.Piotr żali się.[N 3]
Russian
Пётр
раскаялся.Pyotr
raskayalsya.
Пётр
cмеётся.Pyotr
smeyotsya.
Мария и Пётр
расстались.Mariya i Pyotr
rasstalis' .
Пётр
жалуeтся.[N 3]
Pyotr
zhaluyetsya.
LithuanianPetras
atsiprašė.
Petras
uokiasi.
Marija ir Petras
išsiskyrė.[N 1]
Petras
skundžiasi.[N 1]
English Peter repented . Peter laughs.Mary and Peter
parted .Peter complains.
1. ^ a b c d e The verb is reflexive, but not inherently. Both have non-reflexive forms: the
transitive separar and the intransitive reír . In Lithuanian išsiskirti and skųstis have
non-reflexive forms: transitive išskirti and transitive skųsti.2. ^ The corresponding verb is not reflexive.
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3. ^ a b c d Only the Spanish quejarse exists only in reflexive form (cf. the Latin deponent
verb queror , I complain); however, in other languages, the corresponding non-reflexive verb has a different meaning, like "lament" or "mourn".
Reflexive Pronounsreflexive (adj.) [grammar]: reflecting back on the subject, like a mirror
We use a reflexive pronoun when we want to refer back to the subject of the sentence
or clause. Reflexive pronouns end in "-self" (singular) or "-selves" (plural).
There are eight reflexive pronouns:
reflexive pronoun
singular
myself
yourself
himself , herself , itself
plural
ourselves
yourselves
themselves
Look at these examples:
reflexive pronouns
the underlined words are NOT the same
person/thing
the underlined words are the SAME
person/thing
John saw me. I saw myself in the mirror.
Why does he blame you? Why do you blame yourself ?
David sent him a copy. John sent himself a copy.
David sent her a copy. Mary sent herself a copy.
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My dog hurt the cat. My dog hurt itself .
We blame you. We blame ourselves.
Can you help my children? Can you help yourselves?
They cannot look after the babies. They cannot look after themselves.
Intensive pronouns
Notice that all the above reflexive pronouns can also act as intensive pronouns, but
the function and usage are different. An intensive pronoun emphasizes its antecedent.
Look at these examples: [Εληαηά αλησλπκίεο
Παξαηξήζηε όη όιεο ν αξαάλσ αληαλαιαζηέο αλησλπκίεο κνξεί είζο λαιεηνπξγήζε σο εληαηή αλησλπκίεο, αιιά ιεηνπξγία α ρξήζ ηνπ είλα
δαθνξεηή. Μα εληαηή αλησλπκία ηνλίε ξνγελέζηεξεο ηο. Κνηάμηε απηά ηααξαδείγκαηα:]
I made it myself . OR I myself made it.
Have you yourself seen it? OR Have you seen it yourself ?
The President himself promised to stop the war. She spoke to me herself . OR She herself spoke to me.
The exam itself wasn't difficult, but exam room was horrible.
Never mind. We'll do it ourselves.
You yourselves asked us to do it.
They recommend this book even though they themselves have never read it. OR
They recommend this book even though they have never read it themselves.
When we use reflexive pronouns.
1. When the subject and the object refer to the same person or thing.
He accidentally cut himself while he was chopping the vegetables.
She bought a present for herself .
We helped ourselves to the free drinks at the launch party.
They injured themselves during the rugby match.
I enjoyed myself at the concert.
The dog is scratching itself – it must have fleas!
2. We use them for emphasis.
The author signed the book for me herself ! I did it myself .
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3. In some cases we use it to have a similar meaning to also.
Annabelle was pretty happy last night. I was pretty happy myself .
When we don't use reflexive pronouns.
1. There are a number of verbs in English with which we rarely or never use reflexive
pronouns (as they are in other languages).
They include: adapt, behave, complain, concentrate, get up, hide, lie down, meet,
move, relax, remember, shave, shower, sit down.
2. After a preposition of place or location we use a personal pronoun and not a
reflexive pronoun.
He put the backpack next to him.
Ourselves, Themselves and Each Other
1. We use each other when two or more people or things perform the same action to
the other.
Our neighbors were shouting at each other all night.
My brothers always compete with each other in sport.
2. Take note of the difference between these two sentences:
Mark and Sarah killed themselves. (They each committed suicide).
Mark and Sarah killed each other. (Mark killed Sarah and she killed Mark).
More about Each Other
We use the reciprocal pronoun each other when the action is between two people,
and not reflexive.
They stared into each other's eyes.
The hate each other.
And to make the contrast clearer:
Mike and Carol bought each other presents for Christmas(Mike bought a present for Carol and Carol bought a present for Mike). isvery different to
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Mike and Carol bought themselves presents for Christmas(Mike bought a present for himself and Carol bought a present for herself).
Reflexive Pronouns with Objects
We use verb + reflexive pronoun + object when we do something for ourselves.
She cooked herself a quiche.
We taught ourselves French.
We use verb + object + reflexive pronoun when we want to emphasize that
another person did not do the action (or assist).
I repaired the tire myself.
They did the homework themselves. My brother spoke to his boss himself about a raise.
By + Reflexive Pronouns
We use by + myself/yourself/himself etc when we are alone or not with another
person.
Jacob went to the party by himself.
Emma was sitting by herself.
Αυτοπάθεια
Η κςηςική αςχσμία ςξσ γ΄ ποξρώπξσ (suus, sua, suum) και η ποξρχπική
αςχσμία ςξσ γ΄ ποξρώπξσ (sui, sibi, se, a se) υοηριμξπξιξύςαι μόξ γιαασςξπάθεια (λειςξσογξύ, δηλαδή, χ ασςξπαθεί αςχσμίε).
Η ασςξπάθεια διακοίεςαι ρε:
α. Άμεση ή ευθεία
β. Έμμεση ή πλάγια.
α. Άμεση ή ευθεία αυτοπάθεια
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Πιξ ααλσςικά, άμεση ή ευθεία αυτοπάθεια έυξσμε όςα η ποξρχπική ή
κςηςική αςχσμία, se ή suus, αατέοεςαι ρςξ σπξκείμεξ ςξσ οήμαςξ ςη
ποόςαρη ρςη ξπξία βοίρκεςαι (είςε βοίρκεςαι ρε κύοια ή δεσςεοεύξσρα,
είςε ρε απαοεμταςική, μεςξυική ποόςαρη είςε ρε τοάρει ςξσ γεοξσδίξσ ή
ςξσ ρξσπίξσ).
Πιξ απλά, έυξσμε άμερη ή εσθεία ασςξπάθεια όςα η αςχσμία αατέοεςαι
ρςξ σπξκείμεξ ςξσ οημαςικξύ ςύπξσ ενάοςηρή ςη.
Π.υ. Belua movet se. (3) = ςξ κήςξ κιεί ςξ εασςό ςξσ (= καςεσθύεςαι)
(η αςχσμία se εναοςάςαι από ςξ οήμα movet, ςξσ ξπξίξσ σπξκείμεξ είαι
ςξ belua. Η αςχσμία se αατέοεςαι ρςξ belua,άοα έυξσμε εσθεία ή άμερηασςξπάθεια).
(Silius Italicus)ultimis annis vitae suae in Campaniā se tenebat. (5) = Ο Σ.
Ιςαλικό ςα ςελεσςαία υοόια ςη ζχή ςξσ κοαςξύρε ςξ εασςό ςξσ
(παοέμεε) ρςη Καμπαία.
(ξι αςχσμίε suae και se αατέοξςαι ρςξ σπξκείμεξ ςξσ οήμαςξ ςη
ποόςαρη ρςη ξπξία βοίρκξςαι, άοα έυξσμε εσθεία ή άμερη ασςξπάθεια)
Σημείχρη 1: Σπάια, η άμερη ή εσθεία ασςξπάθεια εκτοάζεςαι και
μξξλεκςικά με οήμα παθηςική τχή αλλά μέρη διάθερη.
Π.υ. Germani in fluminibus lavantur.(15) lavantur = lavant se = Οι Γεομαξί
πλέξςαι (= πλέξσ ςξσ εασςξύ ςξσ) ρε πξςάμια.
Σημείχρη 2: Σε αςίθερη με ςη αςχσμία suus, -a, -um, η is, ea, id
εκτοάζει απλώ κςήρη.
Π.υ. (Silius) gloriae Vergili studebat ingeniumque eius fovebat. (5) = Ο
Σίλιξ επεδίχκε ςη δόνα ςξσ Βιογιλίξσ και πεοιέβαλλε με αγάπη ςξ πεύμα
ςξσ (ςξσ Βιογιλίξσ).
(Silius) gloriae Vergili studebat ingeniumque suum fovebat. = Ο Σίλιξ
επεδίχκε ςη δόνα ςξσ Βιογιλίξσ και πεοιέβαλλε με αγάπη ςξ πεύμα ςξσ(ςξ
δικό ςξσ πεύμα)
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Σημείχρη 3: Ασςξπαθεί αςχσμίε για ςξ α΄ και β΄ ποόρχπξ δε
σπάουξσ. Η ασςξπάθεια ρςα ποόρχπα ασςά εκτοάζεςαι με οήμα
εεογηςική τχή και ςη ποξρχπική αςχσμία ςξσ αςίρςξιυξσ
ποξρώπξσ ρε πλάγια πςώρη.
Π.υ.
amo + αιςιαςική subvenio + δξςική
amo me = αγαπώ ςξ εασςό μξσ subvenio mihi = βξηθώ ςξ εασ
amas te = αγαπά ςξ εασςό ρξσ subvenis tibi = βξηθά ςξ εασ
amamus nos = αγαπάμε ςξσ εασςξύ μα subvenimus nobis = βξηθάμε ςξ
amatis vos = αγαπάςε ςξσ εασςξύ ρα subvenitis vobis = βξηθάςε ςξσ
β. έμμεση ή πλάγια αυτοπάθεια
Αςίθεςα, έμμεση ή πλάγια αυτοπάθεια έυξσμε όςα η ποξρχπική ή κςηςική
αςχσμία, se ή suus, εώ βοίρκεςαι είςε ρε απαοεμταςική τοάρη είςε ρε
δεσςεοεύξσρα ποόςαρη (ςελική, αατξοική, ρσμπεοαρμαςική, βξσληςική ή
πλάγια εοχςημαςική), αατέοεςαι ρςξ σπξκείμεξ ςξσ οήμαςξ ςη
ποόςαρη ενάοςηρη. Ασςό ρσμβαίει γιαςί ρςη απαοεμταςική τοάρη ή ρςη
δεσςεοεύξσρα ποόςαρη εκτοάζεςαι η ρκέφη ή η ποόθερη/επιθσμία ςξσσπξκειμέξσ ςη ποόςαρη ενάοςηρη.
Πιξ απλά, έυξσμε έμμερη ή πλάγια ασςξπάθεια όςα η ασςξπαθηςική
αςχσμία δε αατέοεςαι ρςξ σπξκείμεξ ςξσ οημαςικξύ ςύπξσ ενάοςηρή
ςη.
Π.υ. (Cassius) existimavit ad se venire hominem […]. (14) = Ο Κάρριξ
όμιρε όςι εουόςα ποξ ςξ μέοξ ςξσ έα άθοχπξ […].
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(η εμποόθεςη αςχσμία (ad se), η ξπξία βοίρκεςαι ρςη απαοεμταςική
τοάρη (ad se venire hominem), αατέοεςαι ρςξ σπξκείμεξ (Cassius) ςξσ
οήμαςξ (existimavit) ςη ποόςαρη ενάοςηρη (ρςη ξπξία βέβαια
εμπεοιέυεςαι η απαοεμταςική τοάρη) και όυι ρςξ σπξκείμεξ ςξσ
απαοεμτάςξσ (hominem), άοα έυξσμε έμμερη ή πλάγια ασςξπάθεια)
Puella […] rogavit materteram, ut sibi paulisper loco cederet. (38) = Η
κξπέλα ζήςηρε από ςη θεία ςη α ςη παοαυχοήρει για λίγξ ςη θέρη ςη.
(η αςχσμία sibi αατέοεςαι ρςξ σπξκείμεξ (puella) ςξσ οήμαςξ (rogavit)
ςη ποόςαρη ενάοςηρη και όυι ρςξ σπξκείμεξ (matertera)ςξσ οήμαςξ
(cederet) από ςξ ξπξίξ εναοςάςαι)
Αλληλοπάθεια
Σςα λαςιικά λείπει η αλληλξπαθή αςχσμία. Έα ςοόπξ για α
εκτοαρςεί η αλληλξπάθεια είαι η αιςιαςική ςξσ πληθσςικξύ ςχ
ποξρχπικώ αςχσμιώ (nos, vos, se) με ςη ποόθερη inter και ςα ςοία
ποόρχπα ςξσ πληθσςικξύ ςξσ καςάλληλξσ οήμαςξ.
Π.υ. amamus inter nos = αγαπάμε ξ έα ςξ άλλξ
amatis inter vos = αγαπάςε ξ έα ςξ άλλξ
amant inter se = αγαπξύ ξ έα ςξ άλλξ.
Σημείχρη: Η αλληλξπάθεια ρςη Λαςιική εκτοάζεςαι ακόμη χ ενή:
υοηριμξπξιείςαι δσξ τξοέ ςξ ρυεςικό όξμα ή η αςχσμία (για δύξ
ποόρχπα) ή η (για πξλλά ποόρχπα), ποώςα ρε ξξμαρςική (χσπξκείμεξ), έπειςα ρε πλάγια πςώρη (χ αςικείμεξ).
Π.υ. manus manum lavat = ςξ έα υέοι ίβει ς’ άλλξ
alter alterum iuvat = βξηθξύ αλλήλξσ (ξ έα ςξ άλλξ)
alius alium interficiebat = ρκόςχα ξ άλλξ ςξ άλλξ (αλλήλξσ)
We use a reflexive pronoun after a transitive verb (see Clauses, Sentences and Phrases) when the direct object
is the same as the subject of the verb:
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I am teaching myself to play the piano.
Be careful with that knife. You might cut yourself .
These are the verbs most often found with reflexive pronouns:
cut
dry
enjoy
hurt
introduce
kill
prepare
teach
Some verbs change their meaning slightly when they have a reflexive pronoun as direct object:
amuse
apply
busy
content
behave
blame
distance
express find
help
see
Would you like to help yourself to
another drink? = Would you like to take another drink?
I wish the children would behave
themselves. = I wish the children would behave well.
He found himself lying by the side of the road.
= He was surprised when he realised that he was atthe side of the road.
I saw myself as a famous actor. = I imagined that I was a famous actor.
She applied herself to the job of
mending the lights. = She worked very hard to mend the lights.
He busied himself in the kitchen. = He worked busily in the kitchen.
I had to content myself with a few=
I had to be satisfied with a few Euros.
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end
finish
grow
improve
increase
move
open
shake
start
stop
tear
turn
I broke the glass.
I dropped the glass and it broke.
The referee blew his whistle and started the match.
The match started at 2.30.
We grew some tasty potatoes.
The potatoes were growing well.
The wind shook the trees.
The trees shook in the wind.
3. Many verbs to do with cooking are ergative verbs:
bake
boil
cook
defrost
freeze
melt
roast
You should roast the meat at 200 degrees centigrade.
The meat was roasting in a hot oven.
I always defrost meat before I cook it.
I am waiting for the meat to defrost.
Melt the chocolate and pour it over the ice cream.
The chocolate was melting in a pan.
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4. Verbs to do with vehicles are often ergative:
back
crash
drive fly
reverse
run
sail
start
stop
I’m learning to fly a plane.
The plane flew at twice the speed of sound.
He crashed his car into a tree.
His car crashed into a tree.
5. We use some ergative verbs with only a few nouns:
catch: dress, coat, clothes, trousers etc.
fire : Gun, pistol, rifle, rocket.
play : guitar, music, piano, violin, CD, DVD etc.
ring: bell, alarm
She caught her dress on a nail.
Her dress caught on a nail.
He fired a pistol to start the race.
A pistol fired to start the race.
Reflexive pronouns are used much less often in English than in other languages. This
explanation provides an overview to reflexive pronoun use in English with explanations and
examples.
English Reflexive Pronouns
I - myself
you - yourself
he - himself
she - herself
it - itself
we - ourselves
you - yourselves
they - themselves
Here is a list of some of the most common reflexive verbs in English:
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to enjoy oneself
to hurt oneself
to kill oneself
to market oneself
to convince oneself
to deny oneself
to encourage oneself
to pay oneself
Reflexive pronouns are used in three instances in English.
With Reflexive Verbs
Examples:
I enjoyed myself last summer.
He's trying to market himself as a consultant.
Sharon pays herself $5,000 a month.
We encourage ourselves to learn something new every week.
As an Object of a Preposition Referring to Subject
Examples:
Tom bought a motorcycle for himself.
They purchased a round trip ticket to New York for themselves.
We made everything in this room by ourselves.Jackie took a weekend holiday to be by herself.
To Emphasize Something
Examples:
No, I want to finish it myself! (I don't want anyone helping me.)
She insists on talking to the doctor herself. (She didn't want anyone else talking to the
doctor.)
Frank tends to eat everything himself. (He doesn't let the other dogs get any food.)
Problem Areas
Many languages such as Italian, French, Spanish, German, and Russian often use verb
forms which employ reflexive pronouns. Here are some examples:
alzarsi - Italian / get up
cambiarsi - Italian / change clothes
sich anziehen - German / get dressed
sich erholen - German / get better
se baigner - French / to bathe, swimse doucher - French / to shower
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In English, reflexive verbs are much less common. Sometimes students make the mistake
of translating directly from their native language and adding a reflexive pronoun when not
necessary.
Examples:
I get myself up, shower myself and have breakfast before I leave for work. SHOULD BE I
get up, shower and have breakfast before I leave for work.
She becomes herself angry when she doesn't get her way. SHOULD BE She becomes
angry when she doesn't get her way.
More Links
Using Relative Clauses - Defining Relative Clauses
Basic English - Pronouns - 30 Essential Lessons for Beginning English Learners
Using Relative Clauses - Non-defining Relative Clauses
Grammar Lesson Plans
Beginner Level Free English Lesson Plans - Lesson Plans for TESOL Teaching
ESL Lesson Plan - Grammar Review and Extension Match-Up Game
Comparative Form - Superlative Form
Pronoun Quizzes
Personal Pronouns - 1
Personal Pronouns - 2
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