What is the Difference Between Him and Himself?

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The main difference between "him" and "himself" lies in their usage and function within a sentence. "Him" is an object pronoun, while "himself" is a reflexive pronoun used for emphasis or when the subject and object of a sentence are the same.

  • Him: This pronoun is used as the object of a verb or preposition, typically referring to a male person or animal. For example: "She invited him to the party."
  • Himself: This reflexive pronoun is used in two cases:
  1. When the subject and object of a sentence are the same. For example: "He did the work himself."
  2. For emphasis. For example: "The great man himself signed the cap for his little fan."

In summary, "him" is used as the object of a verb or preposition, while "himself" is a reflexive pronoun used for emphasis or when the subject and object are the same.

Comparative Table: Him vs Himself

The difference between "Him" and "Himself" is related to the pronoun's case and how it is used in a sentence. A simple table can help illustrate the differences:

Pronoun Case Usage
Him Object Replaces a man or boy in the object of a sentence or phrase, or is used as the object of a preposition. For example, "I saw him yesterday."
Himself Reflexive Refers back to the subject of a sentence or indicates someone doing something to or for themselves. For example, "He fixed his bike himself."

In summary:

  • "Him" is used as the object of a sentence or phrase, or as the object of a preposition, replacing a man or boy.
  • "Himself" refers back to the subject of a sentence or indicates someone doing something to or for themselves.