Use himself when the subject and object are the same male person or to add emphasis to a male subject.
30秒词汇
- Reflexive pronoun for male subjects.
- Used for emphasis or independent action.
- Always refers back to the sentence subject.
Overview
'Himself' is a reflexive pronoun specifically tied to male subjects (he, a boy, a man, or a male animal). It functions as the object of a verb or preposition when the object is the same person as the subject. It also acts as an intensive pronoun, used to add emphasis to the subject. 2) Usage Patterns: Reflexive use occurs when the subject and object are identical, such as 'He cut himself while shaving.' Emphatic use occurs when the speaker wants to stress who performed the action, for example, 'The president himself attended the meeting.' It can also mean 'alone' or 'without help,' as in 'He built the shed by himself.' 3) Common Contexts: It is frequently used in everyday conversation to describe personal care, accidents, or independent achievements. In narrative writing, it helps clarify character actions and motivations. It is rarely used in the first or second person, as those require 'myself' or 'yourself.' 4) Similar Words Comparison: 'Himself' is often compared to 'he' and 'him.' While 'he' is a subject pronoun and 'him' is an object pronoun, 'himself' is specifically reflexive or intensive. Unlike 'him,' 'himself' must refer back to the subject of the same clause. For example, 'He told him' means he spoke to another man, whereas 'He told himself' means he spoke to his own mind.
例句
He cut himself while cooking dinner.
everydaySe cortó mientras cocinaba la cena.
The CEO himself announced the new policy.
formalEl director general mismo anunció la nueva política.
He finished the homework all by himself.
informalTerminó la tarea él solo.
The author himself admitted the theory was flawed.
academicEl autor mismo admitió que la teoría era defectuosa.
常见搭配
常用短语
all by himself
completamente solo
to himself
para sí mismo
be himself
ser él mismo
容易混淆的词
Him is an object pronoun used when the object is someone other than the subject. Himself is used when the object is the same as the subject.
He is a subject pronoun that performs the action. Himself is a reflexive pronoun that receives the action or provides emphasis.
语法模式
How to Use It
使用说明
Himself is used in both formal and informal contexts. It is essential to ensure the subject is male to maintain grammatical agreement. It is considered a function word rather than a content word, meaning it carries grammatical weight rather than descriptive meaning.
常见错误
A frequent error is using 'himself' as the subject of a sentence, such as 'Himself went to the store.' Another error is using 'him' instead of 'himself' when the subject and object are the same, like saying 'He hit him' instead of 'He hit himself.' Always check if the action reflects back to the subject.
Tips
Check the subject for agreement
Always ensure the subject of your sentence is male before using himself. If the subject is 'they' or 'she,' you must change the pronoun accordingly.
Do not start sentences with himself
A common mistake is using 'Himself went to the store.' Always use 'He' as the subject and reserve 'himself' for later in the sentence.
Emphasis in formal speech
Using 'himself' to emphasize a person's presence is common in formal introductions or professional settings. It shows respect or highlights the importance of the individual.
词源
The word is a combination of 'him' (the dative/accusative form of the Old English 'he') and 'self' (derived from the Old English 'self'). This compound structure has been used since the Middle English period to provide clarity and emphasis.
文化背景
In English-speaking cultures, the use of 'himself' for emphasis is often used in business or academic settings to add authority to a statement. It implies that the person mentioned is of high importance.
记忆技巧
Remember that 'himself' ends in 'self,' which signifies that the action stays within the person. If you can replace it with 'him' and the meaning changes, you likely need the reflexive 'himself.'
常见问题
4 个问题No, you should use 'herself' for a female person. 'Himself' is strictly reserved for males or masculine nouns.
'By himself' means alone or without assistance. 'For himself' usually means for his own benefit or advantage.
Not necessarily. It can appear after a preposition, such as 'He kept the secret to himself,' or as an intensive pronoun right after the subject.
No, 'himself' cannot be the subject of a sentence. You must use 'he' to start the sentence.
自我测试
Complete the sentence with the correct reflexive pronoun.
John decided to fix the broken car by ___.
The phrase 'by himself' indicates that John did the work alone.
Choose the sentence where 'himself' is used correctly.
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
Here, 'himself' is used for emphasis, which is a correct grammatical function.
Rearrange the words to form a correct sentence.
to / he / kept / himself / the / information
This follows the standard SVO structure with the reflexive pronoun at the end.
🎉 得分： /3
Summary
Use himself when the subject and object are the same male person or to add emphasis to a male subject.
- Reflexive pronoun for male subjects.
- Used for emphasis or independent action.
- Always refers back to the sentence subject.
Check the subject for agreement
Always ensure the subject of your sentence is male before using himself. If the subject is 'they' or 'she,' you must change the pronoun accordingly.
Do not start sentences with himself
A common mistake is using 'Himself went to the store.' Always use 'He' as the subject and reserve 'himself' for later in the sentence.
Emphasis in formal speech
Using 'himself' to emphasize a person's presence is common in formal introductions or professional settings. It shows respect or highlights the importance of the individual.
例句
4 / 4He cut himself while cooking dinner.
Se cortó mientras cocinaba la cena.
The CEO himself announced the new policy.
El director general mismo anunció la nueva política.
He finished the homework all by himself.
Terminó la tarea él solo.
The author himself admitted the theory was flawed.
El autor mismo admitió que la teoría era defectuosa.
Related Content
相关词汇
更多general词汇
about
A1‘about’可以表示‘关于’某个话题，也可以表示‘大约’或‘左右’。
above
A2表示比其他事物更高的位置，就在上面。
accident
A2发生的不幸事件，可能造成损害或伤害。
action
A2为了达到目的而采取的行动过程。
after
A2‘after’的意思是‘在……之后’，表示在时间上或空间上晚于某事。
afterward
A2At a later or subsequent time.
again
A2‘again’的意思是‘再一次’，表示某事再次发生或被重复。
aged
B1用来描述人或事物处于特定的年龄。
alive
A2指有生命的状态，不是死亡的。
all
A2‘all’指的是某事物的全部，或者每一个。
