Ampersand Lab

Foundation grammar · Lesson 63 · A2

myself/yourself/themselves etc.

Use myself, yourself, themselves and the rest when the subject and the object are the same person. Use by myself for alone, and each other when two people do the same thing to one another.

Start the lesson

15Steps · about 25 minutes

In this lesson

myself, himself, themselvesA2 screens of questions
me or myself?B1 screen of questions
by myself, by yourselfC2 screens of questions
each otherD2 screens of questions
Put it together+2 screens of mixed questions

Point A of 4

myself, himself, themselves
I me myself
he him himself
she her herself
you you yourself (one person), yourselves (two or more)
we us ourselves
they them themselves

A man straightening his tie in a mirror is looking at himself. A host pointing at the buffet says Help yourself! A family building sandcastles on the beach is enjoying themselves.

  • I saw myself on the telly.
  • He burnt himself on the oven door.
  • She slipped on the ice, but she didn't hurt herself.
  • There's cake on the table. Help yourself. (one person)
  • There's cake on the table. Help yourselves. (two or more people)
  • We had a great weekend in York. We enjoyed ourselves.
  • They had a lovely evening. They enjoyed themselves.

Point A · Exercise 63.1 · part 1 of 2

Finish the sentences with myself, yourself and so on.

  1. Example

    She looked at herself in the shop window.

    AnswerShe looked at herself in the shop window.

  2. I'm not cross with you. I'm cross with .

  3. Gary had a great time in Edinburgh. He enjoyed .

  4. My parents had a great time in Cornwall. They enjoyed .

  5. I was chopping onions and I cut .

Point A · Exercise 63.1 · part 2 of 2

Finish the sentences with myself, yourself and so on.

  1. She never thinks about other people. She only thinks about .

  2. We've only just met. Tell me a bit about . (one person)

  3. Bye! Have a lovely weekend and look after ! (two people)

Point B of 4

me or myself?

Use me, him, them and so on when the two people are different: she is looking at him.

Use myself, himself, themselves and so on when the two people are the same: he is looking at himself.

  • You never listen to me.
  • I didn't buy anything for them.
  • Sorry, did I wake you?
  • I sometimes sing to myself in the car.
  • They bought the tickets for themselves.
  • Watch out. Don't cut yourself.

Point B · Extra practice

Put in me, him, her and so on, or myself, himself, herself and so on.

  1. She looked at in the mirror and smiled.

  2. Can you help with this bag? It's heavy.

  3. Did you make this cake ? It's brilliant.

Point C of 4

by myself, by yourself

by myself, by yourself, by herself and so on mean alone.

  • I went to the pictures by myself. (= I went alone)
  • "Was he with his mates?" "No, he was by himself."

Point C · Exercise 63.2 · part 1 of 2

Write each sentence again with by myself, by yourself and so on.

  1. Example

    I went to the beach alone. (I went ...)

    I went to the beach by myself.

    AnswerI went to the beach by myself.

  2. When I saw her, she was alone. (When I saw her, she ...)

  3. Don't walk home alone. (Don't ...)

  4. I had lunch alone. (I ...)

  5. My grandad lives alone. (My grandad ...)

Point C · Exercise 63.2 · part 2 of 2

Write each sentence again with by myself, by yourself and so on.

  1. Lots of students live alone. (Lots of students ...)

Point D of 4

each other

Use each other when two people do the same thing, one to the other.

Compare each other with -selves. Liam and Rosie looked at each other means that he looked at her and she looked at him. Liam and Rosie looked at themselves means that he looked at himself and she looked at herself, perhaps in a shop window.

  • Kath and Jo are old friends. They phone each other every Sunday. (= Kath phones Jo and Jo phones Kath)
  • Sean and I work near each other. (= he works near me and I work near him)
  • Liam and Rosie looked at each other.
  • Liam and Rosie looked at themselves.

Point D · Exercise 63.3 · part 1 of 2

Read each scene. Write a sentence with each other.

  1. Example

    Two neighbours are chatting over a garden fence. He says, "I trust her." She says, "I trust him."

    (They / trust)

    They trust each other.

    AnswerThey trust each other.

  2. A tall hedge stands between two gardens. A man on one side says, "I can't hear her." A woman on the other side says, "I can't hear him."

    (They / can't hear)

  3. One cousin lives in Leeds and the other lives in Sydney. She says, "I often ring him." He says, "I often ring her."

    (They / often ring)

  4. A man and a woman are standing at a party. He says, "I don't know her." She says, "I don't know him."

    (They / don't know)

  5. On a train, a man says, "I'm sitting opposite her." The woman says, "I'm sitting opposite him."

    (They / are sitting opposite)

Point D · Exercise 63.3 · part 2 of 2

Read each scene. Write a sentence with each other.

  1. A woman says, "I sent him a birthday card." A man says, "I sent her a birthday card."

    (They / sent / birthday cards)

Put it together · Exercise 63.4 · part 1 of 2

Complete the sentences. Use each other, or ourselves, yourselves, themselves, or us, you, them.

  1. Example

    Rhys and I work near each other.

    AnswerRhys and I work near each other.

  2. Example

    Who are those men? Do you know them?

    AnswerWho are those men? Do you know them?

  3. You lend Ellie books and Ellie lends you books. So you and Ellie lend books.

  4. There's tea in the pot. If you and Sam want some, you can help .

  5. We didn't go to Kieran's wedding. He didn't invite .

  6. When we go to Blackpool, we always enjoy .

Put it together · Exercise 63.4 · part 2 of 2

Complete the sentences. Use each other, or ourselves, yourselves, themselves, or us, you, them.

  1. Lisa and Hannah worked together for years, but they never see now.

  2. Dom and I are old friends. We've known since primary school.

  3. "Did you see Ian and Paula at the wedding?" "Yes, but I didn't speak to ."

  4. Lots of people sing to in the shower.

Lesson 63 · Result

How you did

Next lesson: -'s (Kate's camera / my brother's car etc.)Back to the course

–Right

Each point

A. myself, himself, themselves–Not checkedB. me or myself?–Not checkedC. by myself, by yourself–Not checkedD. each other–Not checkedPut it together–Not checked