Self vs. Themselves

Attribute	Self	Themselves
Subject	I, me, my	They, them, their
Plural form	We, us, our	They, them, their
Reflexive pronoun	Myself	Themselves
Individuality	Refers to one's own identity	Refers to the identity of a group of people
Personal pronoun	First person singular	Third person plural

Definition

Self is a singular pronoun that refers to an individual person or entity. It is used when the subject and the object of a sentence are the same. Themselves, on the other hand, is a reflexive pronoun that is used when the subject and the object of a sentence are plural. It refers to a group of people or entities.

Usage

Self is used when talking about oneself or when referring to a singular person or entity. For example, "I need to take care of myself" or "She did it all by herself." Themselves, on the other hand, is used when talking about a group of people or entities. For example, "They helped themselves to the food" or "The team congratulated themselves on their victory."

Reflexivity

Self is a reflexive pronoun that is used to reflect the action back onto the subject. It is used to emphasize that the subject is performing the action on itself. Themselves, on the other hand, is also a reflexive pronoun but is used for plural subjects. It reflects the action back onto the plural subject.

Formality

Self is generally considered more formal than themselves. It is often used in formal writing or speech to refer to oneself or a singular person or entity. Themselves, on the other hand, is more casual and is commonly used in everyday speech when referring to a group of people or entities.

Examples

Here are some examples of how self and themselves are used in sentences:

• Self: "I need to take care of myself."
• Themselves: "They congratulated themselves on their hard work."
• Self: "She did it all by herself."
• Themselves: "The students helped themselves to the snacks."

Subject-Verb Agreement

When using self or themselves, it is important to ensure that the pronoun agrees with the subject of the sentence. Self is used with singular subjects, while themselves is used with plural subjects. This agreement helps to maintain clarity and coherence in the sentence.

Emphasis

Self is often used to emphasize the individual nature of the subject. It can add emphasis to the action being performed by the subject on itself. Themselves, on the other hand, is used to emphasize the collective nature of the group. It highlights the actions being performed by the group on themselves.

Conclusion

In conclusion, self and themselves are both reflexive pronouns that are used to reflect the action back onto the subject. Self is used for singular subjects, while themselves is used for plural subjects. Self is more formal and is often used in formal writing or speech, while themselves is more casual and is commonly used in everyday speech. Understanding the differences between self and themselves can help improve clarity and coherence in writing and speech.