Cool MateOurselves vs Us
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Ourselves
Top 1,000 (very common)A2pronoun
Us
Top 1,000 (very common)A1pronoun
| Ourselves | Us | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ɑːˈselvz//ˌaʊəˈselvz/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɑːrˈselvz//ˌaʊərˈselvz/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/əs//ʌs/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əs//ʌs/"]/ |
| Meaning | We (people) by our own action or choices. | You and me together. |
| Example | We shouldn't blame ourselves for what happened. | She gave us a picture as a wedding present. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | A1 |
| Part of speech | pronoun | pronoun |
| Collocations | find ourselves, believe in ourselves, challenge ourselves, enjoy ourselves, remind ourselves | between us, including us, help us |
| Antonyms | themselves, yourself, himself, herself | them, you |
| Common mistakes | Using 'ourself' instead of 'ourselves'., Confusing with 'themselves' or 'yourself' when speaking about a different group., Incorrect subject-verb agreement, e.g., 'We saw ourselves' instead of 'Us saw ourselves.' | Using 'us' as the subject instead of 'we'., Confusing 'us' with 'we' in plural subjects., Forgetting to use 'us' after prepositions. |
| Usage notes | Use 'ourselves' when referring back to a group including the speaker. It's more common in reflective or self-referential contexts. Avoid in overly formal writing. | Used when talking about a group including the speaker and at least one other person. Typically appropriate in both spoken and written contexts; less common in very formal writing. |
Frequently asked questions: Ourselves vs Us
What's the difference between Ourselves and Us?
Ourselves: We (people) by our own action or choices. Us: You and me together.
Which is more advanced: Ourselves and Us?
Ourselves is the highest level, at A2, on the CEFR scale.
Are Ourselves and Us the same CEFR level?
Ourselves: A2, Us: A1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Ourselves and Us?
Ourselves: pronoun, Us: pronoun.
Can you show an example of each?
Ourselves: We shouldn't blame ourselves for what happened. Us: She gave us a picture as a wedding present.
Can I use Ourselves and Us interchangeably?
Not always. Ourselves and Us are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.