Understanding ‘Himself’: A Key Reflexive Pronoun in English
Learn about the reflexive pronoun ‘himself’, its meaning, usage, and common mistakes to avoid. This video covers examples and tips to help improve your English skills, especially for IELTS preparation.
Today we’re going to learn about the word himself, an important pronoun you’ll often encounter in English and potentially in your IELTS exam.
Word type: Himself is a reflexive pronoun. Reflexive pronouns are used when the subject of a sentence is also the object.
Meaning: Himself refers back to a male person or animal that has already been mentioned. It’s used to emphasize that the person did something alone or without help, or to refer to that person specifically.
Word history: Himself comes from combining the words him and self. It has been used in English for centuries and is a fundamental part of the language.
Antonyms: While himself doesn’t have direct antonyms, we can consider other reflexive pronouns as alternatives, such as herself, itself, yourself, or themselves.
Synonyms: Strictly speaking, himself doesn’t have true synonyms. However, in some contexts, you might use phrases like on his own, personally, or by himself to convey a similar meaning.
Let’s look at some examples of how to use himself in sentences. He hurt himself while playing football.
The cat cleaned himself after eating. The president himself attended the meeting. John decided to teach himself how to play the guitar.
Now, let’s discuss some common errors people make when using himself. One common mistake is using himself when you should use him.
For example, it’s incorrect to say Please give it to John or himself. The correct version would be Please give it to John or him.
Another error is using himself too early in a sentence before introducing the subject. For instance, Himself went to the store is incorrect.
It should be He went to the store himself or simply He went to the store. Remember, himself is always used to refer back to a male subject already mentioned in the sentence or to emphasize that the male subject did something alone.
To improve your IELTS score, practice using himself correctly in your speaking and writing. Pay attention to how it’s used in reading passages and listening exercises.
With regular practice, you’ll become more comfortable and proficient in using this important pronoun.
