Introduction

• On utilise les pronoms réfléchis au lieu du pronom objet:
  • "I look at myself in the mirror." (pas "I look at me in the mirror.")
  • "I bought something for myself." (pas "I bought something for me.")
    "I" est à la fois le sujet et l'objet. Si l'objet est différent, on utilise un pronom objet "I look at him in the mirror." ou "I bought something for him."
     
• On utilise les pronoms réfléchis pour insister sur le sujet qui accomplit l'action:
  • "I drove the car myself."
    J'ai conduit la voiture, personne d'autre.
     
• On utilise les pronoms réfléchis avec "by" pour insister sur le sujet et pas une autre personne, ou pour signifier "alone" ("tout seul") (pour signifier "alone", on doit utiliser "by"):
  • "I drove the car by myself."
    I drove it, not someone else, ou I was alone when I drove the car.
  • "She waited in the room by herself." (pas "She waited in the room herself.")
    She waited in the room alone.

Formation

• Sarah could see herself in the reflection.
  The subject and the object are the same person. (not "She could see by herself" … or "Sarah could see her.")
   
• He did the work himself.
  He did the work, no one else.
   
• He did the work by himself.
  He did the work, no one else, or he was alone when he did the work.
   
• I don’t want to go to the party by myself.
  I don’t want to go to the party alone (note that "I don’t want to go to the party myself" means something different. This means: Personally (if I speak for myself), I don’t want to go to the party.)
   

Exercices d'entraînement

Complétez les phrases avec le pronom réfléchi correct, avec by si nécessaire:

E xercices d'entraînement supplémentaires