myself

/maɪˈself/ (bre, ipa) · /maɪˈself/ (ame, ipa) · /mī-ˈself mə- Southern also -ˈsef/ (ame, mw)

myself — pronoun

1. Used when the person speaking is both the one who does an action and the one who

1.代名詞A2
釋義

Used when the person speaking is both the one who does an action and the one who receives it — for example, cutting yourself while cooking, or teaching yourself a new skill.

例句

I taught myself to play the guitar using online videos.

teach + reflexive pronoun for self-instruction

I looked at myself in the shop window and laughed at my reflection.

文法句型

verb + myself

preposition + myself

用法筆記

This is the most basic and frequent use of 'myself'. The verb must be one that can take the same person as both subject and object — common verbs include 'cut', 'hurt', 'teach', 'tell', 'ask', 'remind', 'treat', 'introduce'.

常見錯誤

❌I enjoyed me at the party.
✅I enjoyed myself at the party.
💡Reflexive verbs in English always use the reflexive pronoun, not the object pronoun.
❌I concentrat-ed myself on the test.
✅I concentrated on the test.
💡Not every languageʼs reflexive verb is reflexive in English. 'Concentrate', 'feel', 'relax' are not reflexive in English.

2. Used immediately after 'I' or at the end of a statement to stress that you perso

2.代名詞B1
釋義

Used immediately after 'I' or at the end of a statement to stress that you personally — and not anyone else — performed the action or hold the opinion.

例句

I myself saw the thief run out of the store.

I myself + verb for personal witness

The director never called, but I myself spoke to the manager.

同義詞
  • personally

    less emphatic; used in formal writing rather than speech

  • in person

    implies physical presence, while 'myself' can also mean 'without delegating'

文法句型

I myself + verb

verb + object + myself

用法筆記

When placed right after 'I' ('I myself…'), the emphasis is stronger. When placed at the end ('…do it myself'), the emphasis contrasts with someone else doing it. This sense is not available for all verbs — it works best with actions the speaker can personally perform or witness.

常見錯誤

❌I myself went to the store myself.
✅I myself went to the store.' or 'I went to the store myself.
💡Using both positions in one sentence is redundant.

3. Used in place of 'I' or 'me' to sound less direct or more formal, especially aft

3.代名詞B2
釋義

Used in place of 'I' or 'me' to sound less direct or more formal, especially after words like 'like', 'as', 'than', or in compound subjects and objects.

例句

The invitations were sent by myself and a few colleagues from the office.

and myself as formal compound object

My grandmother was as surprised as myself to hear the news.

as + myself for comparison

同義詞
  • me

    neutral, not formal; the default object pronoun

  • I

    used as subject; 'myself' is sometimes used in subject position in informal speech

文法句型

like myself

as myself

such as myself

than myself

and myself

用法筆記

Some style guides consider using 'myself' instead of 'I' or 'me' to be hypercorrection. In formal writing, 'I' (subject) and 'me' (object) are safer. However, this usage is well established in polite speech and business correspondence.

常見錯誤

❌Myself and John went to the meeting.
✅John and I went to the meeting.
💡'Myself' should never be the subject of a verb.
❌Please send the form to myself.
✅Please send the form to me.
💡Use 'me' for simple objects unless a specific reason for formality exists.

4. Without anyone else present, or without receiving help from anyone — for example

4.代名詞A2
釋義

Without anyone else present, or without receiving help from anyone — for example, living alone in a flat, or finishing a project without assistance.

例句

I built the wooden bookshelf all by myself without any help.

all by myself for independent action

I live by myself in a small flat near the train station.

同義詞
  • alone

    means only 'without company', not 'without help'

  • on my own

    interchangeable with 'by myself' in most contexts

  • solo

    informal; often used for travel or performance

  • independently

    more formal; emphasises self-reliance rather than solitude

反義詞

文法句型

by myself

all by myself

用法筆記

The phrase 'by myself' can mean either 'alone' (no company) or 'without help' (no assistance). The context makes the meaning clear. Adding 'all' in 'all by myself' strengthens the sense of being completely alone or entirely unaided.

常見錯誤

❌I by myself went to the store.
✅I went to the store by myself.
💡'By myself' goes after the verb, not before it.
❌I did it by my own.
✅I did it by myself.' or 'I did it on my own.
💡English uses 'by + myself' or 'on + my own', not a mixed form.

5. For the person speaking to have, use, or enjoy exclusively — without having to s

5.代名詞B1
釋義

For the person speaking to have, use, or enjoy exclusively — without having to share with anyone.

例句

I had the entire swimming pool to myself that afternoon.

have + object + to myself for exclusive use

With my flatmates away, I had the kitchen all to myself for a week.

同義詞
反義詞
  • shared

    used by more than one person

文法句型

to myself

all to myself

用法筆記

This sense always appears in the structure 'have [something] (all) to myself'. The 'all' is optional but adds emphasis. The thing possessed can be a physical space, an object, or a period of time.

6. Not feeling or behaving the way one normally does — for instance, being unusuall

6.代名詞B1
釋義

Not feeling or behaving the way one normally does — for instance, being unusually irritable, sad, or anxious because of stress, tiredness, or emotional difficulty.

例句

I'm sorry I shouted at you — I haven't been myself since the argument with my brother.

haven't been myself for emotional state

After working twelve-hour shifts all week, I just didn't feel myself at all.

同義詞
  • out of sorts

    idiomatic; means slightly unwell or unhappy

  • off

    informal; 'I feel off today' — vague but common

反義詞

文法句型

be + not + myself

feel + like + myself

not + feel + myself

用法筆記

This sense is fixed in the negative ('not myself') or in recovery ('feel like myself again'). The positive phrase 'I am myself' is rare and usually reserved for philosophical or poetic contexts. Distinguish from sense 7, which is specifically about physical illness — this sense covers emotional, mental, or general life stress.

常見錯誤

❌I am not me today.
✅I am not myself today.
💡The fixed expression uses the reflexive pronoun, not the object pronoun.

7. Feeling physically sick or unwell, to the point where your body does not feel li

7.代名詞B2
釋義

Feeling physically sick or unwell, to the point where your body does not feel like it normally does — for example, when you have a fever, a bad cold, or stomach trouble.

例句

I knew I wasn't myself when even the smell of tea made me feel sick.

wasn't myself for physical illness context

With this terrible cold I haven't felt like myself for almost a week.

同義詞
反義詞

文法句型

be + not + myself

not + feel + myself

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 6: sense 6 covers emotional or mental states (stress, sadness, irritability), while sense 7 is specifically about physical illness affecting how you feel. In practice, a sentence like 'I'm not myself today' could mean either; the surrounding context — mention of fever, cold, or a doctor — signals this physical-illness use.

常見錯誤

❌I am not myself with cold.
✅I am not myself because of this cold.' or 'I am not myself with this cold.
💡The cause should be introduced by 'with' or 'because of', not a bare noun.