himself

The word himself is a reflexive pronoun used specifically to refer back to a male subject that has already been mentioned in a sentence. In the English language, reflexive pronouns serve a vital grammatical function by indicating that the person performing the action is also the recipient of that action. This linguistic loop ensures clarity, preventing the reader from confusing the subject with a different male individual. For example, if one says 'John saw him,' it implies John saw another person. However, 'John saw himself' clarifies that John looked in a mirror or perceived his own image. This distinction is fundamental for A2 learners as they transition from simple subject-verb-object structures to more complex self-referential descriptions. Beyond its reflexive role, 'himself' acts as an intensive pronoun, used to add emphasis to a noun or another pronoun. When a speaker says, 'The King himself attended the ceremony,' they are highlighting the remarkable nature of the King's personal presence, suggesting that his attendance was unexpected or particularly significant. This dual role—reflexive and intensive—makes 'himself' one of the most versatile tools in masculine-gendered English prose. Understanding its application requires a grasp of gender agreement, as 'himself' must always align with a masculine singular antecedent, whether that be a man, a boy, or a male animal. In modern usage, while gender-neutral language is evolving, 'himself' remains the standard for specifically identified male entities.

Reflexive Usage

Used when the object of a verb is the same as the subject (e.g., He washed himself).

Intensive Usage

Used to emphasize the subject (e.g., He did the work himself).

Prepositional Usage

Used after prepositions to refer back to the subject (e.g., He bought a gift for himself).

Historically, the word evolved from Old English 'him' (dative of 'he') and 'self' (meaning same or identical). This combination was originally used to provide even greater distinction in sentences where multiple male figures might be present. In contemporary literature, 'himself' is often used to explore internal psychological states. When a character is 'not feeling himself,' it suggests a deviation from his normal personality or health. This idiomatic use expands the word's utility from a mere grammatical marker to a descriptor of identity and well-being. Furthermore, in formal settings, 'himself' can be used to denote the highest authority, such as 'The Director himself will review your application.' This usage conveys a sense of gravity and direct involvement. Learners should also be aware of the 'by himself' construction, which signifies solitude or lack of assistance. 'He lives by himself' means he lives alone, whereas 'He built the house by himself' means he did it without help. These nuances are essential for achieving fluency and expressing independence or isolation effectively in English.

Common Mistake

Using 'hisself' is grammatically incorrect in standard English; always use 'himself'.

Using 'himself' correctly involves understanding its placement within the sentence structure. Most commonly, it appears in the object position after a transitive verb. When the subject (he, the man, the boy, David) performs an action that affects that same person, 'himself' must be used. For instance, 'He cut himself while chopping vegetables.' Here, 'he' is the agent and 'himself' is the patient. Without 'himself', the sentence would be incomplete or would require a different object like 'the carrot'. Another frequent use is after a preposition. Phrases like 'by himself', 'to himself', 'for himself', and 'of himself' are ubiquitous. 'He went to the cinema by himself' indicates he was alone. 'He kept the secret to himself' means he did not share it with others. 'He bought a new car for himself' shows the beneficiary of the action is the subject. In these cases, 'himself' provides a necessary link back to the male subject, ensuring the reader knows exactly who is being discussed. Learners often struggle with when to use 'him' versus 'himself'. The rule is simple: use 'himself' only when the subject and the object are the same person. If the subject is 'I', 'you', or 'she', you cannot use 'himself' as a reflexive pronoun; you must use 'myself', 'yourself', or 'herself'.

Subject-Object Agreement

The subject must be masculine and singular (e.g., The man... himself).

Intensive Placement

Can be placed immediately after the noun (The doctor himself...) or at the end of the clause (...did it himself).

In more advanced writing, 'himself' can be used in apposition to emphasize a noun. This is the intensive use mentioned earlier. 'The President himself signed the treaty' is more powerful than 'The President signed the treaty' because it underscores the personal involvement of a high-ranking official. This can also be used for contrast: 'He didn't send a servant; he came himself.' Here, 'himself' contrasts the subject with potential substitutes. Another interesting pattern is the use of 'himself' in absolute constructions or as part of a complex subject, though the latter is often considered non-standard (e.g., 'Himself and his brother went' is dialectal and should be avoided in formal English). In standard English, 'himself' never functions as the subject of a sentence. You should never say 'Himself did it'; instead, say 'He did it himself'. This is a common pitfall for learners who might try to use reflexive pronouns for emphasis in the subject position. Mastering these patterns allows for more nuanced storytelling and clearer communication of personal agency.

Sentence Structure

Subject (He) + Verb (hurt) + Reflexive Pronoun (himself).

In daily conversation, 'himself' is heard frequently in contexts involving personal achievement, mishaps, or solitary activities. You might hear a parent proudly saying, 'He dressed himself today!' highlighting a child's milestone in independence. In sports commentary, announcers often use it to emphasize a player's individual effort: 'He took the ball all the way himself!' This adds drama and focuses the audience's attention on the athlete's skill. In the workplace, 'himself' is used to clarify responsibility. If a manager says, 'The CEO himself is coming to the meeting,' it signals that the meeting is of high importance. Conversely, in casual gossip, one might hear, 'He's really full of himself,' which is a common idiom meaning the person is arrogant or conceited. This shows how 'himself' can carry emotional weight, moving beyond simple grammar into the realm of social judgment. In movies and TV shows, 'himself' is often used in dialogue to establish a character's isolation or self-reliance. A detective might say, 'He lived by himself in that cabin for ten years,' painting a picture of a loner. In comedic settings, a character might argue with 'himself', providing a visual and verbal cue for internal conflict.

Everyday Idioms

'Full of himself' (arrogant), 'Not himself' (acting strangely).

Media Usage

Used in news to emphasize the direct involvement of male public figures.

In literature, 'himself' is a tool for deep characterization. Authors use it to describe a character's internal monologue or physical self-awareness. For example, 'He found himself standing on the edge of the cliff' suggests a moment of sudden realization or a trance-like state. This use of 'found himself' is a common literary trope to describe a character's arrival at a situation without fully conscious planning. In academic or formal writing, 'himself' is used to maintain precision. When discussing a philosopher's work, a scholar might write, 'The author himself argues that...' to distinguish the author's primary claims from the interpretations of others. This prevents ambiguity in complex arguments. Even in technical manuals, you might see 'The user should not attempt to repair the unit himself,' providing a clear warning about safety and expertise. Across all these domains—from the playground to the boardroom to the pages of a novel—'himself' serves as a critical anchor for masculine identity and individual action. Its frequency in the English language reflects our cultural focus on the individual and the importance of clearly identifying the actors in any given scenario.

One of the most frequent errors made by English learners—and even some native speakers—is the use of the non-standard form 'hisself'. This mistake usually arises from a logical but incorrect application of the rule for other reflexive pronouns like 'myself' (my + self) or 'yourself' (your + self). Since 'my' and 'your' are possessive adjectives, learners assume 'his' (the possessive adjective for 'he') should be combined with 'self'. However, 'himself' uses the object pronoun 'him' instead. It is crucial to memorize 'himself' as an exception to this pattern. Another common mistake is using 'himself' when 'him' is required. This often happens in compound objects. For example, 'The manager spoke to John and himself' is incorrect; it should be 'The manager spoke to John and him' (unless the manager is John). The reflexive pronoun should only be used if the person it refers to is the subject of the same clause. A third error involves using 'himself' as a subject. 'Himself and I went to the store' is incorrect; it should be 'He and I went to the store'. Reflexive pronouns lack the grammatical 'case' to function as subjects in standard English.

Hisself vs. Himself

'Hisself' is not a word in standard English. Always use 'himself'.

Subject Confusion

Never use 'himself' as the subject of a sentence. Use 'He'.

Additionally, learners sometimes forget to use 'himself' when it is necessary for clarity. In the sentence 'He looked at him in the mirror,' the reader would assume the subject is looking at another man. If the subject is looking at his own reflection, 'himself' is mandatory. Misusing these pronouns can lead to significant confusion in storytelling. Another subtle mistake is the over-reliance on 'himself' in an attempt to sound formal. Phrases like 'Please contact himself for more information' are incorrect; 'him' or 'the director' should be used. This 'hypercorrection' is a common phase in language learning where students over-apply a rule they've recently learned. Finally, ensure gender agreement. Using 'himself' to refer to a female subject ('She did it himself') is a basic error that disrupts the flow of communication. While 'themselves' is increasingly used as a singular gender-neutral pronoun, 'himself' remains strictly masculine. By paying close attention to these common pitfalls, learners can ensure their use of 'himself' is both grammatically accurate and contextually appropriate.

While 'himself' is a specific reflexive pronoun, there are several ways to express similar ideas using different words or phrases. The most direct alternatives depend on whether you are using 'himself' for reflection, emphasis, or to indicate solitude. For solitude, 'alone' or 'on his own' are excellent substitutes. 'He went to the park by himself' can be rewritten as 'He went to the park alone' or 'He went to the park on his own'. These alternatives are often used to vary sentence structure and avoid repetition. For emphasis (the intensive use), you might use 'personally' or 'in person'. Instead of 'The owner himself greeted us,' you could say 'The owner greeted us personally.' This conveys the same sense of direct involvement. When 'himself' is used to show agency, phrases like 'without help' or 'unaided' can be used. 'He fixed the car himself' is equivalent to 'He fixed the car without help'. Understanding these synonyms helps learners express themselves more flexibly and adapt their tone to different situations.

For Solitude

Alone, on his own, solo, unaccompanied.

For Emphasis

Personally, in person, directly, very.

For Agency

Independently, without assistance, by his own hand.

In some contexts, 'himself' can be replaced by more descriptive phrases. If someone is 'not himself,' you might say he is 'acting out of character' or 'feeling under the weather'. These phrases provide more specific information about why he is not 'himself'. In formal writing, instead of using 'himself' as an intensive pronoun, writers might use 'the aforementioned individual' or 'the said person,' although these can sound overly legalistic. It's also important to compare 'himself' with its counterparts: 'myself', 'yourself', 'herself', 'itself', 'ourselves', and 'themselves'. Each follows the same reflexive and intensive rules but corresponds to a different subject. In the case of gender-neutral or unknown gender subjects, 'themselves' (singular) or 'themself' is the modern alternative. For example, 'Each student should check their work themselves.' This shift reflects broader changes in the English language toward inclusivity. By mastering 'himself' and its alternatives, learners can navigate the complexities of English pronouns with confidence and precision.