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Anonymous Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

myself vs. by myself

Hi, guys.
My students ask me if there is some kind of a rule that can help them choose when to use "my/him/herself" after the verb vs. "by my/him/herself."
Any thoughts on that?
  

Top answer

In contexts where confusion reigns: By oneself normally means either unaided or alone. Oneself normally means unaided only.

— Mister Micawber

  • In contexts where confusion reigns: By oneself normally means either unaided or alone.
  • Oneself normally means unaided only.
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6 Answers
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In contexts where confusion reigns:

By oneself normally means either unaided or alone. Oneself normally means unaided only.
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While it's not hard and fast for all instances, I think it is for most. I tell my ESL students that you use "myself" when the object is the person speaking. Use "by myself" when the object is an activity that the person is doing.

Example:

1. I like looking at myself in the mirror.
2. I bought myself a car.

or

3. I go swimming by myself.
4. I finished
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  1. hello,
  2. by my self is used to emphasize the subject while by my self is used to emphasize
alone.

e.g.

I bought a car myself------ this means the subject paid the car and didn't ask anybody to pay the car to the cashier eventhough he went to the shop with some people while I bought a car by myself means the subject bought the car ALONE. this means he
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How about "I would like to introduce myself / my self?"
If we exchange self with being "I would like to introduce my being" would seem more grammatically correct.
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Anonymous"I would like to introduce my being" would seem more grammatically correct.
It's unnatural and weird.
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I use being as a way of illustrating my self as being more grammatically correct than myself in that context.
Don't let it frighten you.
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