Reading Theme:
Themselves: Reflexive Pronoun Meaning and Usage (2 meaning)
Meaning 1：the same group (reflexive) (themselves)
themselves
/ðəmˈselvz/
pron.
used when the subject and object are the same group of people or things
the same group (reflexive)
➕
/ðə seɪm ɡruːp (rɪˈfleksɪv)/
pron.
Used when the subject of a verb is also the object, referring to the same group of people or things performing an action on or for themselves.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Root Explanation
them + selves (plural of self); indicates the same group as the subject.
💡 Mnemonic
Think 'them' + 'selves' = they do it to or for their own group.
📖 Example
The children dressed themselves for school this morning.
The children dressed themselves for school this morning.
🔗 Collocations
enjoy themselves – have a good time; be happy
by themselves – alone; without help
express themselves – communicate their feelings or opinions
🔄 Synonyms
themself (pron.) – Nonstandard singular form used for a single person of unspecified gender.
each other (pron.) – Used for reciprocal actions, not exactly reflexive but related.
🚫 Antonyms
others (pron.) – Refers to different people, not the same group.
someone else (pron.) – A different person, not the group itself.
🌱 Derivatives
📖 Cultural Story
From Old English 'self' combined with objective case 'them'. Reflexive pronouns emerged in Middle English to clarify when subject and object refer to the same entity.
Meaning 2：they themselves (emphatic) (themselves)
themselves
/ðəmˈselvz/
pron.
used to give more emphasis to 'they'
they themselves (emphatic)
➕
/ðeɪ ðəmˈselvz (ɪmˈfætɪk)/
pron.
Used to emphasize the subject 'they', highlighting that exactly this group and no other is involved in the action or state.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Example
The organizers themselves were surprised by the huge success of the charity event.
The organizers themselves were surprised by the huge success of the charity event.
🔗 Collocations
themselves said – they personally stated
by themselves (emphatic) – without anyone else's involvement
did it themselves – they performed the action personally
🔄 Synonyms
personally (adv.) – Emphasizes direct involvement of the subject.
in person (adv. phrase) – Physically present or directly involved.
🚫 Antonyms
🌱 Derivatives
selfsame (adj.) – exactly the same
self-important (adj.) – having an exaggerated sense of one's own value
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