Definition: The reflexive case of they, the third-person plural personal pronoun. The group of people, animals or objects previously mentioned, as the object of a verb or following a preposition (also used for emphasis).
Alright class, settle down now, let’s take a look at this word – “themselves.” It's a tricky one, but we can unlock its meaning with a little rhyme and explanation.
Think of it like this: "They" is the starting point, you see? It’s who we’re talking
about
. But sometimes, we need to talk
back
to those same people! That's where “themselves” comes in.
Let’s break down what that dictionary definition really means:
"The reflexive case of they..."
This is key! "Reflexive" means something is acting upon itself. “Themselves” is like "they" doing something to
themselves
. It's a special form of the pronoun, designed just for this situation.
"...the third-person plural personal pronoun."
This simply tells us it’s “they,” but in its special form. It refers to more than one person or thing.
"The group of people, animals or objects previously mentioned..."
– Remember that? You've already talked about these! Let's say you were talking about a team of soccer players. You’d use “themselves” if they were passing the ball
to each other
.
"...as the object of a verb or following a preposition."
This is where it gets really helpful. "The object of a verb" means the pronoun is receiving the action of the verb. Like, “They washed themselves.” Who washed?
Themselves!
And "following a preposition" – think about phrases like "in themselves," or “proud of themselves.” The preposition connects to the group we’ve already mentioned.
Let's practice with an example:
“The puppies played happily
themselves.
” Who is playing happily?
The puppies!
They are doing something to
themselves
.
Does that make sense, class? Do you have any questions about “themselves”? Don’t be shy – let's clarify this together!
