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ESL forum > Ask for help > myself & by myself    

myself & by myself



Anglophil too
Morocco

myself & by myself
 
Hi everybody, can anyone tell me if there is a difference between  myself and by myself ? Thanks in advance.

8 Oct 2010      





kiaras
Mexico

HI,
ALL THE REFLEXIVE PRONOUNS AS MYSELF MEAN THAT THE SUBJECT AND THE OBJECT OF THE SENTENCE ARE THE SAME PERSON:
                                                       " I IMAGINED MYSELF IN THAT SITUATION."
                                                       " SHE HURT HERSELF WITH A KNIFE."
 
WHEREAS, WHEN BY IS USED, IT MAY EITHER MEAN- ALONE OR WITHOUT ANY HELP:
 
                                                       " HE HAS LIVED BY HIMSELF FOR 8 YEARS."
                                                       " MARTHA MADE THE VASE BY HERSELF."
 
 

8 Oct 2010     



zailda
Brazil

There are four uses:
 
The subject and the object are the same, so it comes in the place of the objective pronoun:
 
I hurt myself slicing carrots.
 
Used to emphasize, after the subject:
 
I myself made the cake. (it can be omitted without changing the sentence meaning)
 
Meaning alone (used with by):
 
I live by myself. (= I live alone.)
 
Meaning without help:
 
I have to do my homework by myself. (I have to do my homework without anyone �s help.)
 
In this last case, by can be omitted:
 
I have to do my homework by myself. or  I have to do my homework myself. (without help)

8 Oct 2010