Themselves?

Question

Is there a difference between these two examples of "themselves"?  Are they both reflexive pronouns?1.  They solved the problem themselves.2.  The kittens washed themselves.Thx!

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

Is there a difference between these two examples of "themselves"? Yes.

Are they both reflexive pronouns? Yes.

1. They solved the problem themselves. Here, the meaning is 'by themselves', without outside help. It could be written as They solved the problem by themselves or as They themselves solved the problem.

2. The kittens washed themselves. Here, it's the object of the sentence. The meaning is that they didn't wash anyone else, they washed themselves. With a verb like 'wash', 'themselves' is often omitted because it is normally ourselves that we wash. We don't usually wash other people.

Best wishes, Clive

Themselves?

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions