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EagerSeeker Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

Using reflexive pronouns with have or need

Hi,

reflexive pronouns got me confused when used with have or need. Especially, the structure have/need + -self + something feels odd
when compared to have/need + something + [for] + -self. However, are they both grammatically correct regardless of what style I prefer to use?

I put here some examples of three ways to express the same idea, what do you think?

We need some time for ourselves
We need some time ourselves (can I drop for here?)
We need ourselves some time

And we'll have some time for ourselves
And we'll have some time ourselves
And we'll have ourselves some time

I need time for myself
I need time myself
I need myself time

I have time for myself
I have time myself
I have myself time

Thanks
  

Top answer

Hi, Let me comment on just one section of your examples. I have time for myself= I have time to spend on myself (eg to get my hair done, to relax and read a favourite book) I have time myself = eg I don't have time myself to help you, but Fred has time to help you. I have myself time = This is not really grammatical.

— Clive

  • Hi, Let me comment on just one section of your examples.
  • I have time for myself= I have time to spend on myself (eg to get my hair done, to relax and read a favourite book) I have time myself = eg I don't have time myself to help you, but Fred has time to help you.
  • I have myself time = This is not really grammatical.
  • If I was forced to try to make sense out of it, I'd probably see it as a variant of #2.
  • A more common variant of #2 is I myself have time.
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3 Answers
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Hi,
Let me comment on just one section of your examples.

I have time for myself= I have time to spend on myself (eg to get my hair done, to relax and read a favourite book)

I have time myself = eg I don't have time myself to help you, but Fred has time to help you.

I have myself time = This is not really grammatical. If I was forced to try to make sense out
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CliveHi,
I have myself time = This is not really grammatical. If I was forced to try to make sense out of it, I'd probably see it as a variant of #2. A more common variant of #2 is I myself have time.


Thank you Clive. I understand your comments. I think the problem was just the structure like I have myself time.
You see this t
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Hi,
"As soon as we get a horse hooked up we'll have ourselves some transportation."

This is just a slangy and informal way of saying
"As soon as we get a horse hooked up we'll have some transportation."

I think this would usually be said only in certain regions, and often by rural and uneducated people.

Best wishes, Clive
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