What Does โPride yourself on doing sthโ Mean?
โPride yourself on doing sthโ means to feel proud or satisfied because you do something well or have a good quality.
Introduction
The phrase pride yourself on doing sth is a common English expression used to show that someone values or feels proud of a skill, habit, or quality they have. It often highlights a positive aspect of a personโs character or abilities. Understanding the pride yourself on doing sth meaning helps learners express confidence and self-respect in their actions. This phrase is useful in both spoken and written English and appears frequently in everyday conversations and formal contexts.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: pride yourself on doing something
- Type: Intransitive
- Level: B2 (Upper-Intermediate)
- Short meaning: To feel proud about a skill or quality you have
Structure (Grammar Rules)
The phrasal verb โpride yourself on doing sthโ is inseparable. This means you cannot separate the verb from its reflexive pronoun โyourselfโ or the preposition โon.โ
Pattern: pride yourself on + verb-ing / noun
- Correct: I pride myself on being honest.
- Incorrect: I pride on myself being honest.
How to Use Pride yourself on doing sth?
Use this phrase when you want to express that you feel proud about something you do well. It is often followed by a verb ending in -ing or a noun that describes the action or quality.
Examples:
- She prides herself on speaking three languages fluently.
- They pride themselves on offering excellent customer service.
Examples
Here are some examples of pride yourself on doing sth in a sentence to help you understand its use better:
- He prides himself on his punctuality and never arrives late.
- We pride ourselves on the quality of our products.
- She prides herself on being a good listener.
- They pride themselves on maintaining a clean and safe environment.
- The company prides itself on innovation and creativity.
Common Mistakes
Many learners confuse the correct order or form of this phrase. Here are some examples:
- Incorrect: I pride on myself doing well.
- Correct: I pride myself on doing well.
- Incorrect: She pride herself on her work.
- Correct: She prides herself on her work.
Remember to use the reflexive pronoun โyourselfโ and the preposition โonโ in this fixed order.
Differences / Synonyms
Similar phrases include โtake pride inโ and โbe proud of,โ but they differ slightly:
- Pride yourself on emphasizes your own effort or quality.
- Take pride in also means to feel proud but is less about personal effort and more about possession or association.
- Be proud of is more general and can describe pride in others or things.
Example: โI pride myself on my cooking skillsโ (personal effort). โI take pride in my familyโs achievementsโ (association). โIโm proud of my friendโ (general pride).
Common Collocations
People often use โpride yourself on doing sthโ with certain actions or qualities. Here are common collocations:
- pride yourself on being honest โ valuing honesty
- pride yourself on your work โ valuing quality work
- pride yourself on your skills โ valuing abilities
- pride yourself on your punctuality โ valuing being on time
- pride yourself on customer service โ valuing good service
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of pride yourself on doing sth:
Real-life Dialogue
Here is a short conversation using โpride yourself on doing sthโ:
Anna: How do you manage to keep your garden so beautiful?
Ben: I pride myself on watering it every morning and removing weeds regularly.
Anna: Thatโs impressive! It definitely shows.
Practice
Try to complete this sentence using the correct form of the phrase:
She __________ (pride / herself / on / work / hard).
- a) prides herself on working hard
- b) pride herself on work hard
- c) prides herself in working hard
- d) pride herself on working hard
FAQ
- Q: Can I use โpride yourselfโ without โonโ?
A: No, โonโ is necessary in this phrasal verb. - Q: Is โpride yourself onโ formal or informal?
A: It is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. - Q: Can I use โpride yourself onโ with nouns?
A: Yes, you can use it with nouns or verb-ing forms. - Q: What is the difference between โpride yourself onโ and โbe proud ofโ?
A: โPride yourself onโ focuses on your own qualities or actions, while โbe proud ofโ is more general. - Q: How do I make the verb agree with the subject?
A: Use โpridesโ for he/she/it and โprideโ for I/you/we/they.
