Reading Theme:
Myself: Reflexive & Emphatic Pronoun Guide (2 meaning)
Meaning 1：myself (reflexive) (myself)
myself
/maɪˈsɛlf/
pron.
Used when the subject and object of the sentence are the same person (I).
myself (reflexive)
➕
/maɪˈsɛlf/
pron.
Used when the subject 'I' performs an action on or for the same person, referring back to the speaker.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Root Explanation
Compound of 'my' (possessive of I) and 'self' (one's own person).
💡 Mnemonic
Think 'my self' — it points back to you. Say: I did it my self, so myself.
📖 Example
I need to be kinder to myself and allow time to relax after work.
I need to be kinder to myself and allow time to relax after work.
🔗 Collocations
by myself – alone; without company or help
for myself – for my own benefit; independently
to myself – for my own private use; not sharing
🔄 Synonyms
me (pron.) – Informally used instead of myself in some contexts (e.g., 'I bought me a gift').
my own self (phrase) – Emphatic alternative to myself.
🚫 Antonyms
others (n.) – People other than oneself.
everyone else (phrase) – All other people besides the speaker.
someone else (phrase) – A different person from oneself.
📖 Cultural Story
Myself evolved from Old English 'me self', where 'self' meant 'same' or 'own'. In Middle English it became 'my self' and later a single word.
Meaning 2：myself (emphatic) (myself)
myself
/maɪˈsɛlf/
pron.
Used to emphasize the person ‘I’, meaning ‘me and nobody else’ or ‘personally’.
myself (emphatic)
➕
/maɪˈsɛlf/
pron.
Used to emphasize that the speaker personally did something, not someone else.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Example
I myself prepared all the decorations for the party, so I’m really proud of it.
I myself prepared all the decorations for the party, so I'm really proud of it.
🔗 Collocations
I myself – Personally; as for me (emphatic subject).
me myself – Used for emphasis in informal speech (e.g., 'Me myself, I don't agree').
for myself – Personally; according to my own opinion (emphatic).
🔄 Synonyms
personally (adv.) – In one's own opinion; from a personal viewpoint.
in person (phrase) – With one's own presence, not through others.
I personally (phrase) – Used to emphasize that the speaker is making a personal statement.
🚫 Antonyms
on behalf of others (phrase) – Representing other people, not oneself.
by proxy (phrase) – Through the action of another person.
impersonally (adv.) – In a way that does not involve personal feelings or presence.
Wordbook
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