English
Grammar
Reflexive Possessive Determiners
Reflexive
possessive determiners are a type of pronoun that indicate ownership or
possession while also referring back to the subject of the sentence. They
combine the functions of both possessive determiners and reflexive pronouns.
In
English, the reflexive possessive determiners are formed by adding
"-self" or "-selves" to the possessive determiners
"my," "your," "his," "her,"
"its," "our," or "their." Here are the reflexive
possessive determiners and their corresponding possessive determiners:
Myself
(my)
Yourself
(your)
Himself
(his)
Herself
(her)
Itself
(its)
Ourselves
(our)
Yourselves
(your)
Themselves
(their)
These
reflexive possessive determiners are used when the subject and the object of
the sentence refer to the same person or thing. They emphasize that the action
or state expressed by the verb directly affects the subject.
Here
are some examples of reflexive possessive determiners used in sentences:
I
cut myself while shaving.
She
bought herself a new dress.
They
prepared the meal themselves.
He
takes pride in himself.
We
decorated the room ourselves.
In
these examples, the reflexive possessive determiners are used to show that the
subject is also the recipient or doer of the action.
"Mirrors of Self"
In
the realm of grammar's domain,
Where
words and rules interweave,
A
tale unfolds of a special strain,
Reflexive
possessive determiners, believe!
Once
upon a linguistic rhyme,
In
sentences they found their place,
Pronouns
that possess, in their prime,
While
reflecting back with grace.
"Myself,"
said I, with a gleaming eye,
As I
saw my reflection anew,
Possessing
what's mine, I reached for the sky,
A
self-aware pronoun, oh so true.
"Yourself,"
whispered the wind in reply,
As
it rustled through the trees,
Possessing
your being, as time goes by,
A
mirror of self, with ease.
"Himself"
stood tall, with a sense of pride,
As
he gazed in the looking glass,
Possessing
his worth, none could deride,
A
reflection of strength, unsurpassed.
"Herself"
adorned in a radiant glow,
A
reflection of beauty divine,
Possessing
her essence, a sight to bestow,
A
mirror of grace, so fine.
"Itself,"
whispered the world around,
As
nature hummed its tune,
Possessing
its wonders, so profound,
A
reflection of harmony, opportune.
"Ourself,"
we cried, hand in hand,
Bound
by a common thread,
Possessing
unity, together we stand,
A
reflection of togetherness spread.
"Yourselves"
echoed amidst the crowd,
As
voices intertwined,
Possessing
your choices, strong and proud,
A
reflection of individual mind.
"Themselves"
danced, a joyous sight,
As
diversity took its cue,
Possessing
uniqueness, shining bright,
A
reflection of each and every hue.
So,
dear linguists, let us celebrate,
These
reflexive possessive kin,
For
in their words, we articulate,
A
reflection of self, deep within.
In
sentences they find their place,
These
pronouns that possess and reflect,
A
poem of grammar, a linguistic embrace,
A
tale of language, with words select.
Rules
Reflexive
possessive determiners have certain rules and guidelines that govern their
usage. Here are the key rules for reflexive possessive determiners:
Agreement
with the Subject: Reflexive possessive determiners should
agree in number and person with the subject of the sentence. For example:
I
cut myself. (Singular subject)
They
cut themselves. (Plural subject)
Reflecting
Ownership: Reflexive possessive determiners indicate ownership or
possession while also referring back to the subject. They are used when the
subject and the object of the sentence refer to the same person or thing. For
example:
She
bought herself a gift.
We
enjoyed ourselves at the party.
Avoiding
Redundancy: Reflexive possessive determiners should not
be used when the possessive relationship is already evident in the sentence. It
is unnecessary to use them when the possessive pronoun alone can convey the
intended meaning. For example:
Incorrect:
He
took hisself to the doctor.
Correct:
He took himself to the doctor.
Emphasizing
Self-Action: Reflexive possessive determiners are used to
emphasize that the subject is both the possessor and the recipient or doer of
the action. They draw attention to the subject's involvement in the action. For
example:
I
made the decision myself.
They
built the house themselves.
Reflexive
Pronoun Alternatives: In some cases, reflexive possessive
determiners can be replaced with reflexive pronouns when the emphasis on
possession is not necessary. For example:
He
cut himself. (Reflexive pronoun)
He
cut his finger. (Possessive pronoun)
Remember
that the use of reflexive possessive determiners depends on the context and
purpose of the sentence. It is essential to follow these rules to ensure proper
and effective communication in written and spoken English.
Exercise
She
baked __________ a cake for her birthday.
We
couldn't help but admire __________ in the mirror.
He
fixed __________ a cup of coffee before starting work.
They
gave __________ a round of applause for her performance.
I
reminded __________ to complete the assignment on time.
The
cat cleaned __________ after playing in the garden.
We
decided to treat __________ to a fancy dinner.
The
children entertained __________ with their music and dance.
He
always enjoys challenging __________ in chess.
She
took __________ to the art gallery to explore different artworks.
Answers:
herself
ourselves
himself
herself
myself
itself
ourselves
themselves
himself
herself
They
organized __________ a surprise party for their parents.
Please
help __________ to some snacks at the buffet.
He
couldn't resist admiring __________ in the mirror.
We
found __________ lost in the maze of the city streets.
She
treated __________ to a relaxing spa day.
The
team congratulated __________ on their victory.
I
enjoy challenging __________ in a game of chess.
The
puppy entertained __________ by chasing its tail.
We
took __________ on a scenic hike through the mountains.
He
pushed __________ to excel in his academic pursuits.
Answers:
themselves
yourself
himself
ourselves
herself
themselves
myself
itself
ourselves
himself
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