herself
A2Pronunciation
UK
- /hɜːsˈɛlf/
US
- /hərˈsɛlf/
Description
- refers back to a woman or girl
- by herself
- on her own
- the same woman or girl
"Herself" is a reflexive pronoun. It points back to a woman or girl already named in the sentence. We use it when the action comes back to that same person, as in "She hurt herself," or when we want to show that she did something alone or without help, as in "She built it by herself."
It can also add emphasis. In "She decorated the room herself," the idea is that she did it, not someone else. So this word often helps tell a small story: the same person is involved again, or she did the thing on her own.
"Herself" is a reflexive pronoun. It refers back to a woman or girl already mentioned in the sentence. Unlike "she" or "her," this word shows that the action returns to the same person, or it adds emphasis to show that she did something on her own.
You'll see "herself" used in a few common ways:
Reflexive action:* She does something to the same person named as the subject. For example: "She hurt herself while playing soccer." The action starts with her and comes back to her. Doing something alone:* It can show that no one helped. For example: "She finished the project by herself." This means she did it alone. Adding emphasis:* Sometimes it simply stresses that she was the one who did it. For example: "She decorated the room herself." This gives extra weight to the fact that she did it, not someone else.
It's important to remember that "herself" usually points back to a subject already in the sentence. You would say "Sarah made the cake herself" or "She looked at herself in the mirror." You would not normally use it by itself as the subject in standard English.
So, this word is useful when you want to show that the same woman or girl is affected by her own action, when she does something alone, or when you want to put special focus on her part in the action. It is a small word, but it often adds a clear and human detail to the sentence.
Examples
- 1
Reflection
She looked at herself in the mirror before the interview.
- 2
Without help
Maya fixed the bike herself.
- 3
Alone
After dinner, she walked home by herself.
Phrase
by herself
alone
- 4
Hospitality
Please tell Anna to help herself to some fruit.
Pattern
help herself to + food/drink
take some for herself
- 5
Privacy
She kept the good news to herself until the contract was signed.
Pattern
keep something to herself
not tell other people
- 6
Natural behavior
Around close friends, she can just be herself.
Phrase
be herself
act naturally, not pretend
- 7
Self-care
The first few days after the accident, she could hardly dress herself.
- 8
Emphasis
She herself admitted that the plan needed more time.
Grammar
she herself
used for emphasis
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- herselfpronoun