Cool MateItself vs Themselves
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
| Itself | Themselves | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Refers back to the subject in a sentence. | the people being talked about do something on their own |
| CEFR level | A2 | A2 |
| Part of speech | pronoun | pronoun |
| Usage notes | Used to emphasize the subject or when the subject performs the action on itself. Avoid in very formal writing where more complex phrases can be used. | Used when the subject and the object of the verb are the same. Appropriate in both spoken and written English but more common in neutral contexts. |
Frequently asked questions: Itself vs Themselves
What's the difference between "Itself" and "Themselves"?
"Itself" means: Refers back to the subject in a sentence. "Themselves" means: the people being talked about do something on their own
When should I use "Itself" and "Themselves"?
They can all be used in everyday English.
Are "Itself" and "Themselves" the same CEFR level?
"Itself" is at A2, "Themselves" is at A2 on the CEFR scale.