themselves
gb/ðəmsˈɛlvz/ us/ðəmsˈɛlvz/
A2
Inglês
~ 500
Aceções
0 aceções
pronoun
A2
relation
1
Reflexive pronoun for 'they'
Used when 'they' do something to the same people or things that are the subject.
Padrão de uso:
[they] [verb] themselves
Erro comum:
Learners sometimes confuse 'themselves' with 'each other'. 'They saw themselves' means they saw their own reflection, while 'They saw each other' means they saw one another.
Sinónimos
their own selves (A more emphatic or formal way to say 'themselves')
Antónimos
others (Refers to people different from the subject, opposite of reflexive reference)
Colocações
by themselves
|for themselves
|to themselves
|among themselves
Temas
grammar
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
|communication
Exemplos
- They taught themselves how to play the guitar.
- The children dressed themselves without help.
- They blame themselves for the mistake.
- The team congratulated themselves after the win.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- They made dinner for themselves.
- The kids washed themselves.
- They looked at themselves in the mirror.
- They helped themselves to food.
pronoun
B1
relation
2
Emphatic pronoun for 'they'
Used to show it was really 'they' and not someone else who did something.
Padrão de uso:
[they] themselves [verb]
Erro comum:
Learners sometimes place 'themselves' incorrectly in the sentence. For emphasis, it typically comes right after the subject or at the end of a clause.
Sinónimos
personally (Can be used similarly for emphasis, but is an adverb and not a pronoun)
Colocações
they themselves said
|they themselves admitted
|they themselves decided
Temas
grammar
|emphasis
|core_vocabulary
|communication
Exemplos
- They themselves admitted it was a bad idea.
- The players themselves chose the coach.
- The witnesses themselves confirmed the story.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- They themselves started the project.
- The teachers themselves wrote the exam.
- The workers themselves fixed the problem.
pronoun
A2
state
3
Alone without help or company
Used when 'they' are alone or do something without help from anyone else.
Padrão de uso:
by themselves
Erro comum:
Learners sometimes confuse 'by themselves' with 'themselves' as a simple reflexive; 'by' adds the meaning of being alone or independent.
Sinónimos
alone ('Alone' is an adjective/adverb; 'by themselves' is a phrase with similar meaning)
Antónimos
together (Indicates being with others, opposite of alone)
Colocações
all by themselves
|live by themselves
Temas
independence
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
|communication
Exemplos
- They live by themselves in the countryside.
- The children went to school by themselves for the first time.
- They traveled by themselves across Europe.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- They went to the park by themselves.
- The boy fixed the bike by himself.
- They cooked by themselves.
Gramática
Forma de dicionário
themselves
IPA
GB/ðəmsˈɛlvz/
US/ðəmsˈɛlvz/
Sílabas e acento
them - selves (2 sílabas)
Stress on 2nd syllable (selves)
Formas da palavra
Noun
- Base: themselves
- Plural: themselveses
Família de palavras
Expressões
be beside themselves (with emotion)
1/bˈi bɪsˈaɪd ðəmsˈɛlvz wˈɪθ ɪmˈoʊʃən/
idiom
Extremely upset or excited
To be very upset, angry, or excited.
Exemplos
- They were beside themselves with joy at the news.
- The parents were beside themselves with worry.
by themselves
1/bˈaɪ ðəmsˈɛlvz/
fixed phrase
Alone without help or company
Without help from anyone else; alone.
Exemplos
- They finished the project by themselves.
- The children went to school by themselves for the first time.
in and of themselves
1/ˈɪn ˈænd əv ðəmsˈɛlvz/
fixed phrase
formal
Considered alone, without outside factors
Looked at alone, without thinking about anything else.
Exemplos
- These facts, in and of themselves, are not enough to prove guilt.
- In and of themselves, the changes seem small.
keep to themselves
1/kˈip tə ðəmsˈɛlvz/
fixed phrase
Avoid social interaction with others
To not talk or mix much with other people.
Exemplos
- They tend to keep to themselves at parties.
- The new neighbors keep to themselves most of the time.