How to use reflexive verbs. For more English tutorials, please visit: https://www.thelecturette.com

1. Reflexive Verbs

2. Reflexive Verbs
You use a reflexive pronoun after a transitive
verb to indicate that the object is the same as
the subject.
He blamed himself for his friend’ s death.
I taught myself French.

3. Reflexive Verbs
In theory, most transitive verbs can be used
with a reflexive pronoun. However, you often
use reflexive pronouns with the following
verbs.
amuse help kill
restrict blame hurt
prepare satisfy cut
introduce repeat teach
dry

4. Reflexive Verbs
Sam amused himself by throwing branches
into the fire.
‘ Can I borrow a pencil?’ - ‘ Yes, help
yourself.’
Prepare yourself for a shock.
He introduced himself to me.

5. Reflexive Verbs
Verbs like ‘dress’, ‘shave’, and ‘wash’, which
describe actions that people do to
themselves, do not usually take reflexive
pronouns in English, although they do in other
languages. With these verbs, reflexive
pronouns are only used for emphasis.
I usually shave before breakfast
He prefers to shave himself, even with that
broken arm.

6. Reflexive Verbs
‘Behave’ does not normally take an object at
all, but can take a reflexive pronoun as
object.
If you don’ t behave, send them to bed.
He is not old enough to behave himself.

7. Reflexive Verbs
Some verbs don’t normally have a person as
object, because they describe actions that
you do not do to other people. However,
these verbs can have reflexive pronouns as
object, because you can do these actions to
yourself.
apply distance excel
express compose enjoy
exert strain

8. Reflexive Verbs
I really enjoyed the party.
Just go out there and enjoy yourself.
She expressed surprise at the the news.
Professor Dale expressed himself forcibly.

9. Reflexive Verbs
When ‘busy’ and ‘content’ are used as verbs,
they always take a reflexive pronoun as their
direct object. They are therefore true
‘reflexive verbs’.
He had busied himself in the laboratory.
I had to content myself with watching the little
moving lights.

10. Questions?
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